Every year women in St. Charles County Government have the opportunity to attend a Women's Health Fair. Reliable recommendations and information is available along with some freebies, blood pressure screening and free chair massages. Many women take advantage of the opportunity to learn more about health topics of interest to them and it is a popular event. Also, very predictably, each year a few men ask, "Why isn't there a men's health fair?" While the health education department is very willing to host a men's health fair, unfortunately there has never been a huge interest from the male employees. Health fairs are just one option for finding reliable health information and I would like to offer an alternative.
The move to targeted women's health programs over the last two decades has been a very positive trend. There are health concerns and conditions that are clearly gender specific. Additionally, even diseases found in both men and women sometimes progress and present differently based on gender. Other diseases and conditions, while found in both men and women, have significantly different prevalence rates in the two groups.
One challenge with men is to convince us that following recommendations for preventing illness, injury and disease is important. Going in for routine checkups based on current recommendations is something many men (and women) avoid. All of these recommendations are easy to find and have been shown to significantly decrease the chance of injury, illness and premature death if they are followed.
There are a number of easily available Internet resources providing extensive information on men's health topics. One of my favorites is the Centers for Disease Control, Office of Men's Health website. You can find it at: http://www.cdc.gov/men/index.htm
I strongly recommend that all the men reading this take the time to visit the site. Fathers, you should talk to your sons about some of these topics. For example, did you know that the third leading cause of death in males is "Unintentional Injury"? (Does your son wear a helmet when skateboarding or biking?) You'll find lots of information on injury prevention on the CDC site. Men and boys pay the price of being risk-takers, but following the recommendations on prevention can reduce that cost. Wives, sisters, girlfriends, friends please urge the men in your life to learn about what they can do for a healthier, happier and longer life. They may drag their feet at first but if something serious is prevented because of a routine visit to the doctor they will end up thanking you for pushing it!
Oh, and ladies, I didn't forget about you! Check these women's health resources, and men, urge them to do so!
http://www.cdc.gov/women/index.htm