Men’s Health Month is intended to raise awareness of men’s health issues, and to encourage men to take care of their physical and mental health. As Congressman Bill Richardson said “Recognizing and preventing men’s health problems is not just a man’s issue. Because of its impact on wives, mothers, daughters and sisters, men’s health is truly a family issue.” According to the Centers for Disease Control, American men live almost six years less than do American women. The death rate from chronic illnesses, like diabetes and cancer, is higher for men than for women. While both men and women experience chronic diseases, health behavior differences between men and women may contribute to life span differences. Men may not seek preventive care as often as women—women often get annual preventive exams, but men may not. Preventive care visits can detect and address problems early, as well as give the provider an opportunity to discuss any family history of health conditions. Men may delay getting care and try to “tough out” symptoms, leading to later detection of diseases and poorer outcomes. The death rate from accidents and suicide is higher for men than for women. Many men engage in risky behaviors, such as alcohol misuse, erratic driving, and illicit drug use, which can lead to accidents and suicide.
How can men’s health issues be addressed?
  • Get a physical. Annual preventive exams are covered through the Blue Cross Blue Shield benefit. Labs, like cholesterol and blood sugar, blood pressure screenings and prostate exams can detect problems that may not have resulted in symptoms (diagnostic labs do have costs). If it’s difficult to get to a doctor’s office, explore telehealth as an option. Your BCBSMA plan also has in-network virtual primary care through Firefly Health. To learn more about virtual health options, log in to your MyBlue account. If you have not registered for a MyBlue account, you can download the MyBlue App from the App Store or Google Play or visit Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts. See the attached Blue Cross flyer regarding preventive care.
  • Don’t ignore symptoms. If something is bothering you, get it checked out rather than waiting.
  • Pay attention to oral health. Dental exams can detect more than cavities. Dentists check for oral cancers and gum diseases. Gum disease is linked to other health conditions, such as diabetes, heart disease and high blood pressure. The Blue Cross Blue Shield dental benefit covers preventive exams at 100%. Members and dependents with qualifying conditions can utilize enhanced dental benefits—see the flyer here for more information: Enhanced Dental Benefits
  • Drink moderately or not at all. Alcohol is linked to several health conditions, including liver disease and cancers, as well as accidents.
  • Don’t use tobacco of any kind. See the information above regarding smoking cessation.
  • Take care of your mental health. Mental health is health.
Too many men lose their lives to preventable causes or die too early from chronic diseases, leaving behind children, partners, and other family members. In addition to your medical and dental benefits, Local 4 has other resources to help you address men’s health concerns. Our health coaching partner, TrestleTree, can work with you on nutrition, exercise, stress management and chronic disease management. For more information contact TrestleTree at 866-523-8185 or visit the TrestleTree web page. You can also enroll here. Lyra Health, our Employee Assistance Program, can help you manage conditions such as depression, anxiety, relationship issues, sleep, substance use and more. Contact Lyra at 844-926-2482 or go online at Lyra Health.
For more information on men’s health see:
If you are thinking about suicide or if you have a friend, family member or coworker who are you are concerned about, contact the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by calling or texting 988. You can also chat online at 988lifeline.org.