National Men's Health Week Begins Today
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is reminding the public that National Men's Health Week begins today and continues through June 21. The goal of this week is to heighten awareness of preventable health problems and encourage early detection and treatment of disease among men and boys.
In 2005, according to the CDC, males had higher age-adjusted death rates for all causes of death than did females (1,106.5 deaths versus 663.4 deaths per 100,000 population). Males also had higher age-adjusted death rates for selected causes, including heart disease, stroke, cancer, chronic lower respiratory diseases, influenza and pneumonia, diabetes mellitus, human immunodeficiency virus, unintentional injuries, suicide, and homicide. When considering sex and race, black males have the lowest life expectancy at birth (69.7 years), followed by white males (75.7 years), black females (76.5 years), and white females (80.6 years).
In the June 12, 2009, issue of Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, CDC said population-based approaches are needed to improve men's access to and use of preventive health services early in their lives. Ensuring that all men and their families receive services recommended in evidence-based clinical guidelines, such as those available from the National Guideline Clearinghouse (www.guideline.gov), can facilitate early detection and treatment of diseases and other causes of death.
For more information about Men's Health Week, go to www.menshealthmonth.org/week. CDC's Men's Health Web site can be accessed at www.cdc.gov/men.