National Men’s Health Week is coordinated by the Men’s Health Network and is celebrated as the week leading up to and including Father’s Day. The Alcohol, Drug Addiction and Mental Health Services Board (ADAMHS) for Montgomery County is calling together communities, government, health organizations, and many other groups in an effort to promote the importance of men’s health.

The purpose of Men’s Health Week is to heighten the awareness of preventable health problems and encourage early detection and treatment of disease among men and boys. This week gives health care providers, public policy makers, the media, and individuals an opportunity to encourage men and boys to seek regular medical advice and early treatment for disease and injury.

It encourages men to take the following steps to improve their physical and mental well-being and lower their risks for certain diseases:

Visit a health care professional for regular checkups and preventive screenings.

Get active and eat healthy, avoiding alcoholic beverages.

Pay attention to mental health. Get enough sleep and manage stress.

Avoid unhealthy behaviors, such as smoking and not wearing a seatbelt.

If you choose to drink alcohol, do so in moderation. For men, that means up to two drinks per day.

One drink is defined as:

12 fluid ounces of regular beer

5 fluid ounces of wine

1.5 fluid ounces of 80-proof distilled spirits

For more information on the steps you can take to help in this effort, call ADAMHS at 443-0416 or visit online at www.mcadamhs.org.

*For more information on Men’s Health Week, you can visit www.menshealthmonth.org.