Focus on avoiding cardiovasular disease during Men's Health Week
Published on June 09, 2025
The Oak Park Public Health Department is marking Men’s Health Week from June 10-16 by raising awareness about ways to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease among men.
The American Heart Association states that, nationally, more than one in three adult men have some form of cardiovascular disease, and African-American men are significantly more likely to die from cardiovascular disease than Caucasian men.
Of men who took the Oak Park Community Health Survey this past year, 29% reported high blood pressure and 35% reported high cholesterol.
High blood pressure and high cholesterol are dangerous cardiovascular risk factors that often work together to significantly increase the risk of heart attack, stroke, heart failure and kidney disease.
High blood pressure forces the heart to work harder and damages artery walls, while high cholesterol causes fatty plaques to build up in arteries, narrowing them and restricting blood flow.
When combined, these conditions can lead to blocked arteries, organ damage and life-threatening cardiovascular events, often without warning symptoms until serious complications occur.
Men can avoid the risk factors associated with cardiovascular disease by making some lifestyle changes, visiting your doctor for regular health screenings, and taking steps to avoid infections.
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Recommended lifestyle changes include: quitting tobacco, daily exercise, eating a heart-healthy diet, maintaining a healthy weight, keeping stress levels low and getting enough sleep.
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Visit a doctor to check blood pressure and cholesterol levels and to screen for type 2 diabetes.
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Avoid infections, which can worsen existing heart problems. Your doctor can help you stay current on vaccines, and regular visits to your dentist will help avoid gum disease.
For more information about the Oak Park Public Health Department, visit www.oak-park.us/health, email health@oak-park.us or call 708.358.5480.