MEN’S HEALTH WEEK: DHEC recommends taking action to prevent disease

COLUMBIA, SC (WOLO) — According to CDC data, 13 percent of men are in poor health, less than a quarter meet the recommended amount of physical activity and 40 percent are considered obese.

DHEC recommends acting now during Men’s Health Week to prevent diseases.

“Men need to stop and take care of themselves too,” said Dr. Brannon Traxler, DHEC public health director. “Everything is so much more easily treated if detected early or you don’t have to worry about it if you can prevent it.”

According to DHEC, heart disease is the leading cause of death among men in South Carolina.

“Some people may be genetically predisposed to heart disease. Others with high blood pressure if it’s not treated,” Traxler said. “Get your blood pressure and cholesterol levels checked. If you’re put on medications, be compliant and take your medications.”

Dr. Traxler also says that men should know about when they need to get tested for colon cancer.

“That now is age 45,” she said. “The gold standard is a colonoscopy. Not only will it detect, they can remove polyps before they become cancerous.”

Another health concern in the state is diabetes and pre-diabetes. In South Carolina, 9 percent of men were diagnosed with prediabetes in 2021 and DHEC reports that 90 percent are not aware of having it.

“Unfortunately, we see disparities. We see the death rate from diabetes is two times higher among blacks than whites,” Traxler said. “We also see higher amputation rates.”

While everyone’s diet may be different, Traxler recommends regular exercise as well as limiting sugar, salt and alcohol consumption.

“You also want to make sure you’re getting enough rest and your stress level isn’t too high,” the public health director said. “If you know you are at higher risk for certain health conditions, there may be other lifestyle or medical choices you may also want to make.”