Men and Health: This Father's Day, Look After Your Man's Health

Video: Men's Health Issues

Men should also make an effort to stay safe on their jobs—especially men employed in noisy workplaces, or in jobs where they could be easily injured. About 11,500 private-sector workers experience a work-related injury or illness every day, and more than half need a job transfer, time off, or work restrictions as a result, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

"We see a lot of men that don't protect their hearing, and they work in a noisy environment and eventually end up with hearing deficits," Murad says. Men should follow the rules established by their employers to protect their safety, including their hearing and eyesight, he says. When one gets a new job, it's important to pay attention during orientation sessions that explain the company's workplace health and safety practices. Longtime employees could consider asking for a manual on employee safety procedures to refresh their memory of what they should be doing to protect themselves, Murad suggests.

[Related: It's Not Too Late to Guard Against Hearing Loss]

And it's important to think about any behaviors that can negatively affect one's health. About 20.2 percent of men smoke tobacco, compared with 16.5 percent of women. Quitting smoking can lengthen lifespans and improve quality of life. (Consider these 12 reasons to quit smoking now.) Eventually a vaccine may help people quit smoking, but that is a few years away. For now, nicotine-replacement therapy or medications like bupropion (Zyban) and varenicline (Chantix) can help those who want to give up cigarettes kick the habit.

Drinking alcohol, too, can have a negative impact on health, if not done in moderation. About 5.6 percent of men binge drink—that is, consume five or more drinks on one occasion—compared with 4.2 percent of women (for whom binge drinking is defined as four or more drinks). Excessive consumption of alcohol can increase triglyceride levels and may result in high blood pressure, stroke, heart failure, or alcoholism. The American Heart Association suggests that men who drink regularly stick with an average of one or two drinks per day. (A one-drink daily limit is advised for women.) Still, research suggests that drinking alcohol may not be all bad: Moderate consumption of alcohol may slightly raise HDL—the good type of cholesterol.

[Concerned About Cholesterol? Here Are 10 Ways to Lower LDL or Raise HDL]

Another effect of drinking alcohol that people might not consider? It increases the number of calories you take in, which can lead to obesity and a higher risk of diabetes. "I know people who lose a lot of weight just by cutting back on their alcohol intake," Murad says.

With so many health threats to think about, men need more than one day or one week per year to focus on their health. So while Father's Day will come and go and the clock will run out on National Men's Health Week (June 15 to June 21 this year), Congress is gearing up to make men's health a year-round focus.

The Men and Families Health Care Act of 2009 (H.R. 2115) is currently being debated by the House Committee on Energy and Commerce. It calls for the creation of an Office of Men's Health, similar to the Office of Women's Health, which was established in 1991. Threats to the health of the nation's men are increasing because of a lack of education, awareness, and preventive screening and care for men, according to the bill. In honor of National Men's Health Week, the CDC recently updated its website to include information about how men can lead longer, healthier lives.