Men – Steps Toward Living Longer
SPRINGFIELD – Dr. Damon T. Arnold, Illinois
Department of Public Health Director and a prostate
cancer survivor, is urging men throughout the state
to recognize the importance of a healthy lifestyle,
regular exercise and medical check-ups. In an effort
to raise awareness about issues affecting men’s
health, including heart disease, diabetes, prostate,
testicular and colon cancer, Men's Health Week is
celebrated each year during the week leading up to
and including Father's Day. The goal is to raise
awareness of preventable health problems and
encourage early detection and treatment of disease
among men and boys.
“Men’s Health Week is a great reminder to all men
that they need to take their health seriously. Men
today face many health and wellness issues, and it’s
important they take the time to visit their doctors
for a checkup,” said Dr. Arnold. “The outcome of
prostate cancer, as well as many other health
conditions, depends on early detection and treatment.
That’s why it is important for men and their families
to be aware of available screening options and other
necessary information.”
Dr. Arnold reminds men that along with regular
screenings and checkups, men should eat healthy
foods, exercise regularly, reduce stress, keep
alcohol consumption to moderate levels and reduce or
stop using tobacco.
According to the National Center for Health
Statistics:
• On average, men in the U.S. live an average of five
years less than women.
• The death rate from heart disease in men is
approximately 1.4 times higher than for women.
• Men are more likely to have undiagnosed diabetes
than women, and are more likely to die from diabetes
than women.
• The cancer incidence rate is higher for men than
women.
• The most recent statistics show men had higher
death rates than women in 13 out of 15 leading causes
of death.
Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer
death in American men, behind only lung cancer.
Prostate cancer accounts for about 11 percent of
cancer-related deaths in men. Prostate cancer is the
most common cancer, other than skin cancers, in
American men. The Illinois State Cancer Registry
estimates approximately 9,850 new cases of prostate
cancer will be diagnosed in Illinois during 2011 and
an estimated 1,330 Illinois men will die from it.
Men should talk with their health care provider about
prostate cancer screening and testing and what is
appropriate for them.
Screening tests men should ask their health care
provider about include:
• Obesity: Have your body mass index (BMI)
calculated to screen for obesity.
• High cholesterol: Have your cholesterol checked
regularly starting at age 35.
• High blood pressure: Have your blood pressure
checked at least every two years.
• Colorectal Cancer: Have a test for colorectal
cancer starting at age 50.
• Diabetes: Have a test for diabetes if you have
high blood pressure or high cholesterol.
Dr. Arnold recommends all men actively take part in
their health, starting with talking to a health care
provider.
Steps men can take toward being healthy and living
longer include:
• Be physically active. Try walking, swimming or
bicycling.
• Eat a healthy diet. Emphasize fruits, vegetables,
whole grains and lean meats.
• Stay at a healthy weight. Balance food calories
with calories you burn from activity.
• Don’t smoke. Call the Illinois Tobacco Quitline:
1-866-QUIT-YES.
• Develop a relationship with your doctor.
• Know your family history. Be aware of family
disease history and conditions.