A resolution supporting National Men's Health Week.

Whereas, despite advances in medical technology and research, men continue to live an average of more than 5 years less than women, and African-American men have the lowest life expectancy;

Whereas 9 of the 10 leading causes of death, as defined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, affect men at a higher percentage than women;

Whereas according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, between ages 45 and 54, men are over 11⁄2 times more likely than women to die of heart attacks;

Whereas according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, men die of heart disease at 11⁄2 times the rate of women;

Whereas men die of cancer at almost 11⁄2 times the rate of women;

Whereas testicular cancer is one of the most common cancers in men aged 15 to 34, and, when detected early, has a 96 percent survival rate;

Whereas according to the American Cancer Society, the number of cases of colon cancer among men will reach almost 49,470 in 2010, and nearly 50 percent of men diagnosed with colon cancer will die from the disease;

Whereas the likelihood that a man will develop prostate cancer is 1 in 6;

Whereas according to the American Cancer Society, the number of men developing prostate cancer in 2010 will reach more than 217,730 and an estimated 32,050 of those men will die from the disease;

Whereas African-American men in the United States have the highest incidence in the world of prostate cancer;

Whereas significant numbers of health problems that affect men, such as prostate cancer, testicular cancer, colon cancer, and infertility, could be detected and treated if men’s awareness of these problems was more pervasive;

Whereas according to the Bureau of the Census, more than 1⁄2 of the elderly widows now living in poverty were not poor before the death of their husbands, and by age 100, women outnumber men 4 to 1;

Whereas educating both the public and health care providers about the importance of early detection of male health problems will result in reducing rates of mortality for these diseases;

Whereas appropriate use of tests such as prostate specific antigen (PSA) exams, blood pressure screens, and cholesterol screens, in conjunction with clinical examination and self-testing for problems such as testicular cancer, can result in the detection of many of these problems in their early stages and increase the survival rates to nearly 100 percent;

Whereas women are 2 times more likely than men to visit their doctor for annual examinations and preventive services;

Whereas men are less likely than women to visit their health center or physician for regular screening examinations of male-related problems for a variety of reasons, including fear, lack of health insurance, lack of information, and cost factors;

Whereas Congress established National Men’s Health Week in 1994 and urged men and their families to engage in appropriate health behaviors, and the resulting increased awareness has improved health-related education and helped prevent illness;

Whereas the Governors of over 45 States issue proclamations annually declaring Men’s Health Week in their States;

Whereas, since 1994, National Men’s Health Week has been celebrated each June by dozens of States, cities, localities, public health departments, health care entities, churches, and community organizations throughout the Nation that promote health awareness events focused on men and family;

Whereas the National Men’s Health Week Internet Web site has been established at www.menshealthweek.org and features Governors’ proclamations and National Men’s Health Week events;

Whereas men who are educated about the value that preventive health can play in prolonging their lifespan and their role as productive family members will be more likely to participate in health screenings;

Whereas men and their families are encouraged to increase their awareness of the importance of a healthy lifestyle, regular exercise, and medical checkups; and

Whereas, June 13 through 20, 2010, is National Men’s Health Week, which has the purpose of heightening the awareness of preventable health problems and encouraging early detection and treatment of disease among men and boys: Now, therefore, be it