It's time to take control of your health 
 
June is men&rsquo;s health month and if you're like a lot of men, you may pay less attention to your own health than to other important matters like your job, home, and family. But you deserve good health&mdash;and a good, long life. And isn't it time you did something about that? 
 
To start to prioritize your health, you need a primary care provider (PCP) you trust, such as a family physician or an internist. You might ask your friends for recommendations. Whether you feel more comfortable with a male or a female provider is totally up to you. 
 
Your PCP can give you regular checkups and help make sure you get the care you need, which may include: 
 
Health screenings. You may feel fine, and you may be healthy. Or you could have a silent health problem, like high blood pressure, and not even know it. 
 
Your PCP can use screening tests to detect some diseases before they cause symptoms, when they're often easier to control or treat. For example, you may need to be screened for high cholesterol, type 2 diabetes, or colon cancer. 
 
Vaccines. Are you due for a tetanus booster? A shingles shot? Do you get a flu vaccine every year? Getting recommended vaccinations can help you avoid painful and serious diseases. 
 
Advice for a healthy life. Your PCP can help with goals like eating right, exercising regularly, losing weight, and quitting tobacco. 
 
Open up.&nbsp;Your provider is there to help&mdash;not judge. But they can't do that unless you talk about sensitive topics that may be keeping you from a healthier life, such as:
 
Your mental health. Do you feel sad, hopeless, or disinterested in activities you once enjoyed? These can be signs of depression, which is a serious illness. Treatment helps most people with depression enjoy life again. 

 Your drinking or smoking habits. You need to come clean if you drink alcohol or smoke tobacco or other substances. Your PCP can discuss the risks with you. 
 
Your energy level or sex drive. If you're tired a lot or your desire for sex has plummeted, there may be a treatable cause, such as a low testosterone level. 
 
 

Sources: American Heart Association; Hormone Health Network; National Institutes of Health; U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
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Men: Let's do this!

June is men&rsquo;s health month and if you're like a lot of men, you may pay less attention to your own health than to other important matters like your job, home, and family. But you deserve good health&mdash;and a good, long life. And isn't it time you did something about that?