“On average, men are less healthy and have a shorter life expectancy than women,” but “more than half of premature deaths among men are preventable,” according to a book, Blueprint for Men’s Health: A Guide to a Healthy Lifestyle, offered by the Men’s Health Network, a non-profit organization, as a resource for Men’s Health Month.
June is Men’s Health Month and the week of June 11-17, leading to Father’s Day, is Men’s Health Week. These are national health observances sponsored annually by the Men’s Health Network, a non-profit organization, and recognized in the 2012 National Health Observances, published by the National Health Information Center, Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, in Washington, D.C.
The purpose of Men’s Health Week and Men’s Health Month “is to heighten the awareness of preventable health problems and encourage early detection and treatment of disease among men and boys,” the Men’s Health Network states.
Men’s Health Week & Men’s Health Month
“Anchored by a Congressional health education program, Men’s Health Month is celebrated [each June] across the country with screenings, health fairs, media appearances, and other health education and outreach activities,” according to MensHealthMonth.org, a website operated by the Men’s Health Network.
Men’s Health Week is celebrated each year on the week in June leading up to and including Father’s Day, the Men’s Health Network, the sponsor of the events, explains.
These annual observances “give health care providers, public policy makers, the media, and individuals an opportunity to encourage men and boys to seek regular medical advice and early treatment for disease and injury,” the Men’s Health Network states. “The response has been overwhelming with thousands of awareness activities in the USA and around the globe,” according to the sponsor.
“Recognizing and preventing men’s health problems is not just a man’s issue. Because of its impact on wives, mothers, daughters, and sisters, men’s health is truly a family issue,” Congressman Bill Richardson said, in commemoration of the event, as recorded in the Congressional Record on May 24, 1994, and quoted by the Men’s Health Network on its website.
Resources Focusing on Men’s Health, Prevention, and Wellness
The Men’s Health Network offers resources on men’s health, focusing particularly on prevention and wellness, as part of Men’s Health Month and for Men’s Health Week.
BLUEPRINT FOR MEN’S HEALTH; A Guide to a Healthy Lifestyle. A featured resource, provided by Men’s Health Network, is a 76-page book entitled, BLUEPRINT FOR MEN’S HEALTH; A Guide to a Healthy Lifestyle, containing comprehensive information on health, prevention, and wellness for men.
The book, which the Men’s Health Network says is among its most requested resources, is available for free download as a PDF document on the organization’s website, MensHealthMonth.org, or by clicking on the icon here at right.
The Blueprint for Men’s Health “aims to equip men and women with the tools necessary to facilitate early detection while providing a blueprint to achieving a healthy lifestyle for themselves and their loved ones,” according to Scott T. Williams, Vice President of the Men’s Health Network.
In a forward to the book, Kenneth A. Goldberg, MD, the founder of the Men’s Health Center, writes:
. . .
Based on over 25 years of medical experience, I know that this book, if read and followed by both men and their partners, will go a long way towards increasing not only the longevity of a man’s life, but improving the quality of life for himself and his partner.”
In an Introduction to the Blueprint for Men’s Health, its authors, Armin Brott (MrDad.com) and an Advisory Board of physicians, psychologists, public health experts, safety specialists, and advocates for men’s health, write:
…
More than half of premature deaths among men are preventable. But you can’t prevent a problem if you don’t know it exists. Throughout this book we’ll discuss the main health issues that men face. Each chapter focuses on a single condition or group of related ones. We’ll talk about the factors that increase your risk, show you how to recognize symptoms, and give you some practical, easy-to-implement prevention and treatment strategies. We strongly urge you to read this book carefully—it could save your life.”
The Blueprint for Men’s Health includes chapters on:
- For Women Only: Why Men’s Health is a Women’s Issue
- You and Your Doctor: Partners in Health
- Prevention
- Diet and Nutrition
- Dental Health and Hygiene
- Exercise and Fitness
- Sexual Health
- Prostate Health
- Cardiovascular System
- Diabetes
- Cancer
- Testicular Cancer
- Emotional Health and Well-Being
- Addiction and Substance Abuse
- Accident Prevention and Safety
- Fatherhood
- Special Concerns of African-Americans, Latinos, and Other Minorities
- Screening and Checkup Schedule
- Resources
Other resources provided by the Men’s Health Network for Men’s Health Month and Men’s Health Week include:
- Men’s Health Facts;
- Prostate Health Guide;
- Men’s Health Library; and
- Your Head: An Owner’s Manual; Understanding and Overcoming Depression, Anxiety and Stress. (36-page PDF document)
More Information
See related HelpingYouCare™ reports on:
Menopause Care for Caregivers – Female & Male
June is National Prevention and Wellness Month
New Patient Guides & Treatment Decision Aids Provided by AHRQ (including a link to “Knowing Your Options: A Decision Aid for Men With Clinically Localized Prostate Cancer”)
National Prevention Strategy Released June 16 Under Affordable Care Act
See also information provided by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), part of the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS), including:
For more information on prevention and wellness for both men and women, see the HelpingYouCare™ resource pages on Wellness/ Healthy Living for Seniors & Caregivers, including:
- Diet & Nutrition: Physical Wellness;
- Exercise: Physical Wellness;
- Sleep, Hygiene, Quit Smoking & Other Healthy Practices: Physical Wellness;
- Activities to Preserve Mental Acuity: Intellectual Wellness;
- Social Interaction & A Sense of Connection With Others: Social Wellness;
- Other Areas of Wellness: Emotional, Ethical/ Spiritual & Vocational Wellness; and
- Examples of Healthy Aging: Stories of Inspiring Seniors.
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