At Project Hosts, we concluded our No Shave November having learned more about men’s health and the issues men typically face health wise. Raising awareness on men’s cancer helped our participants consider their own health and learn more about symptoms, preventative measures and how they play an active role in their overall health. For this team, in comparison, when it comes to preventative measures and providing secure cloud solutions, knowing the best approach is integral. Our No Shave November participants understand that it is important to secure cloud environments according to the controls of various security frameworks, like #FedRAMP, #HITRUST, #ISO, #NIST.
In an effort to raise awareness, for this campaign, we shared facts with our participants and then asked them questions about what they learned. We were pleased with their responses. They learned that, “prostate cancer is the most common men’s cancer in America affecting 1 in 7 men. Currently in the US, there are nearly 3 million men fighting prostate cancer. According to these statistics, this could impact you or someone you know”.
We asked, “How aware are you of these statistics? If you’re not currently active in preventing this in your life, are you planning on making any changes after reading this information?
One response was, “I knew that older men are at risk in general but did not know the risk was 1 in 7. This is higher than I thought it would be. In general, I try to eat healthy, take supplements, and exercise on a regular basis. But I am not aware of specific changes that can target this risk. I will certainly do some research.”
Another stated, “I was not aware that Prostate Cancer was affecting 1 in 7 men. Yes, I am planning to follow a low-fat diet with a focus on eating more foods with omega-3 fatty acids along with fruits and vegetables. I was happy to see that coffee may help prevent Prostrate Cancer so the few cups a day will not only help my heart but prevent Prostrate Cancer.”
We then shared that, “Doctors recommend that men with an average risk of prostate cancer make choices that benefit their overall health. There is evidence that choosing a healthy diet that is low in fats and full of fruits and vegetables may contribute to a lower risk of prostate cancer.”
We asked, “Are you aware of the health benefits of eating a diet that is low in fat and higher in proteins? (For example, using olive oil instead of butter). If you’re not already, do you plan to rethink a lifestyle that includes a low-fat diet and exercise?
One participant stated, “Yes, I’m aware of the health benefits of a diet that is lower in bad fats and higher in protein. I plan to incorporate intermittent fasting and exercise into my lifestyle in 2019.”
While another stated, “Eating healthy foods is something that I intend to do, but haven’t really focused on, to be honest. In thinking about it now, I realize that I should get better at this.”
Finally, they learned that statistics show that, “the leading cause of death in America is heart disease. Men are at greater risk for heart disease related death than women. Preventative measures can greatly improve reducing the related death including; quitting smoking, improving cholesterol levels, controlling high blood pressure, maintaining a low-fat diet and exercise”.
So, we asked them, “Does knowing that the risk of heart disease can be minimized by taking preventative measures help you or cause you pressure? Will you make any changes in your life to minimize the risk?
Here is how one young man responded, “It makes me think about my own mortality and family history. I try to exercise but I don’t always eat right. I might think twice before eating that 3rd helping next time.”
And another stated, “we find out all the time that there is risk in most things we do. I think eating sensibly and not overdoing it will definitely help me down the line. I exercise 3 days a week and as of right now, I’m in good health. Learning more about this has helped me want to continue hitting the gym.”
We came away having met our goal to raise awareness on cancer in men, and other men’s health issues. Our participants forwent the razor for an entire month while they considered these topics and to take a closer look at issues that impact men. We find it beneficial that they are more aware of the risks and realize that there are actions they can take to aid in preventing loss of health or possibly worse. Some will continue to dawn their new looks, while others will return to normal grooming but they all walk away knowing more about and having considered men’s health risks. When it comes to securing your data, consider moving to a secure and compliant cloud, where the frameworks of preventative measures minimize security risks and can prevent loss of compliance and ultimately loss of data.
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