Men's Health

Men may be catching up in lifespan—the life-expectancy gap between men and women has shrunk to 5.2 years, the narrowest since 1946—but they still need to pay more attention to their bodies. Why? Men tend to:

• smoke and drink more than women, and generally lead less healthy lifestyles.
• not seek medical help as often as women.
• join in fearless, risky, and dangerous behaviors more often than women.
• largely define themselves by their work, which can be stressful and lead to being disconnected from their emotional side. This can add to problems in relationships, as well as in jobs and careers.

The good news is that many of the major health risks that men face can be prevented and treated if they are diagnosed early. So it is important to be in tune with your body so that you can raise any concerns with a doctor. You deserve to pay more attention to your health! And you deserve to take better care of yourself physically, mentally, and emotionally.

To start taking better care of your health, talk to your doctor about your risks. Also, learn about the importance of routine medical care and screening tests. The resources offered here are a good place to start—for both men and the women in their lives.

Additional Information on Men's Health:

Publications

1.   Healthfinder - Healthfinder is a free gateway to reliable consumer health information developed by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Healthfinder can lead you to selected online publications, clearinghouses, databases, web sites, and support and self-help groups, as well as the government agencies and not-for-profit organizations that produce reliable information for the public.

   http://www.healthfinder.gov

2.   MEDLINEplus - MedlinePlus provides access to extensive information about specific diseases and conditions and also has links to consumer health information from the National Institutes of Health, dictionaries, lists of hospitals and physicians, health information in Spanish and other languages, and clinical trials.

   http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/

3.   Men's Health - This web site links to information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) about men's health issues.

   http://www.cdc.gov/men/

4.   Men: Stay Healthy at Any Age. Checklist for Your Next Checkup - What can you do to stay healthy and prevent disease? You can get certain screening tests, take preventive medicine if you need it, and practice healthy behaviors. This checklist contains suggestions for regular checkups and screenings for every man.

   http://www.ahrq.gov/ppip/healthymen.htm

5.   Real Men Wear Gowns - Men can take care of themselves better by actively taking part in their health care. This web site encourages men to educate themselves on health care and participate in decisions with their doctor- even if it means wearing an examination gown.

   http://www.ahrq.gov/realmen/

6.   Real Men. Real Depression - On this web site you will learn about depression in men, the signs and symptoms of depression, treatment and getting help, and personal stories from men suffering from depression.

   http://menanddepression.nimh.nih.gov/

7.   Blueprint for Men's Health (Copyright © MHN) - The Blueprint for Men’s Health discusses the main health issues that men face today. Each chapter focuses on a single condition or group of related conditions effecting men. This 70+ page book discusses the factors that increase health risks, how to recognize symptoms, and gives practical, easy-to-implement prevention strategies.

   http://www.menshealthnetwork.org/library/blueprint.pdf

8. Men's Health Center (Copyright © MFMER) - This web site helps you find information on health issues key to men, including prostate health, sexual health, STDs and fertility.

   http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/mens-health/MC99999

9. National Men's Health Week - Men's Health Week is celebrated each year as the week leading up to and including Father's Day. The purpose of Men's Health Week is to heighten the awareness of preventable health problems and encourage early detection and treatment of disease among men and boys.

   http://www.menshealthweek.org/

Organizations

1.   Administration on Aging, HHS
2.   Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, OPHS, HHS
3.   Cancer.gov
4.   Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services, HHS
5.   Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, HHS
6.   Fatherhood Initiative
7.   Food and Drug Administration, HHS
8.   Health Resources Services Administration, HHS
9.   National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, NIH, HHS
10.   National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, NIH, HHS
11.   National Institute of Mental Health, NIH, HHS
12.   National Institute on Aging, NIH, HHS
13.   National Institute on Drug Abuse, NIH, HHS
14.   National Institutes of Health, OPHS, HHS
15.   Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
16.   U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
17. Men's Health Network

= Indicates Federal Resources

Current as of June 2007