Healthy Boiler

Men’s health should be a priority all year long

While we recognize “Men’s Health Month” every year to raise awareness of preventable health problems and encourage early detection and treatment of diseases among men and boys, it’s a given that men’s health should be a priority each month.

The Center for Healthy Living (CHL) on Purdue’s West Lafayette campus offers a convenient and cost-effective location for care – including well-man physical exams and screenings – for Purdue benefits-eligible faculty, staff and dependents covered on a Purdue health plan. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), men are half as likely as women to go to the doctor in a two-year period and twice as likely to admit to never seeing a doctor in their adult lives.

“The best way for men (and women) to know what is happening with their health and well-being is to have an annual physical and biometrics screening,” said Ronald Shelton, MD at the CHL. “These are the tools that can provide a patient and his or her primary care physician the opportunity for early detection should there be an issue. Health issues that affect many men include high blood pressure, high cholesterol and type 2 diabetes, and many do not know they have these health issues because they have not had an annual physical and biometrics screening. Additionally, the findings from a physical and biometrics screening offer the opportunity for education, preventive measures and tips on how to manage conditions and more.” 

Those who do not currently have a primary care physician in the community or at the CHL can establish at the CHL. Keep in mind, both physicians and nurse practitioners can serve as your primary care physician regardless of where you go for care.

Create healthy habits

According to the CDC, 12 percent of men aged 18 and over are in fair or poor health. Spotlighting men’s health is a reminder for men to take steps to be healthier. A few tips courtesy of the CDC to help men create healthy habits and set an example for those around them include:

  • Get regular checkups – again, annual physicals are the key. Additionally, learn about your family healthy history. As a reminder, getting your annual physical and biometrics screening meets the requirements for the 2019 Healthy Boiler Program incentives.
  • Eat healthy – include fruits and vegetables in your diet.
  • Get regular exercise – adults need two and a half hours of physical activity each week.
  • Don’t smoke or quit smoking – quitting has immediate and long-term benefits. The university provides resources for approved tobacco cessation programs.
  • Reduce stress – self-care is the best way to reduce and manage stress; find support, avoid alcohol and drugs, connect socially and stay active are among the most recommended self-care options.
  • Seek help for depression / mental health – according to Men’s Health Resource Center, depression is underdiagnosed in men, and men are four times more likely to commit suicide than women are.
  • Know the signs and symptoms of a heart attack – every 40 seconds someone in the United States has a heart attack. Additionally, heart disease is the leading cause of death in males. Major signs of a heart attack include:
    • Pain or discomfort in the jaw, neck or back
    • Feeling weak, light-headed or faint
    • Chest pain or discomfort
    • Pain or discomfort in arms or shoulders
    • Shortness of breath

In addition to offering physicals and biometrics screenings, the CHL provides services that can help with the above. Scheduling an appointment with a health coach, dietitian or employee assistance counselor at the CHL could be the first step in the right direction for advice or assistance creating healthy habits. To schedule, call the CHL at 765-494-0111 or visit the Center for Healthy Living portal.

Resources for men’s health

Questions?

Questions can be directed to the CHL at 765-494-0111.  

Healthy Boiler Program overview

In 2018, Purdue University, in partnership with the Center for Healthy Living on Purdue’s West Lafayette campus, introduced its Healthy Boiler Wellness Program to promote wellness within the university population. Today, the Healthy Boiler Program continues to flourish in more ways than simply an incentive program. Composed of five pillars (behavioral health, financial wellness, physical health, social wellness and work-life integration), the program provides care in each area by offering cost-controlled benefits and easily accessible resources that help Purdue employees (and their families) across all campuses transform their lives into the healthiest, happiest versions possible.

To stay up-to-date on all things Healthy Boiler, visit the Healthy Boiler Portal and follow the Healthy Boiler Purdue blog and Healthy Boiler on social media.

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Any questions on the Healthy Boiler Program can be directed to Human Resources at 765-494-2222, toll-free at 877-725-0222 or via email at hr@purdue.edu.  

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