Why Care About Men’s Health?
“Men are shown to know less about health, and
also care less about it.”
“Men have higher rates of all the 15
leading causes of death than women.”
- Dr. William Courtenay
In comparison to women, men are more overweight; men develop heart disease
about 10-15 years earlier; men have shorter lifespans; men are 100% less
likely to visit a doctor for annual health exams or preventative services
(CDC, 2001). 
These startling statistics place an emphasis on the importance
of education and awareness about men’s health. Currently, the top men’s
health threats are heart disease, cancer, and unintentional injury; all of
which are preventable conditions. Education and awareness, about health
topics pertaining to men, are vital components to closing the gap between
these health disparities. Why is it important to be healthy inside and out?
What happens when we get older? What is the proper way to eat and exercise?
Is male menopause a myth or a true men’s health issue? Answers to these and
other men’s health questions were addressed at the PCHC sponsored Men’s Health
and Wellness Initiative Training.
On Friday August 5, 2011 PCHC held a training session on Men’s Health and
Wellness at the SE Regional Training Center in Bridgeport Pa. This training
was introduced as a project from the PCHC Men’s Health Initiative. 33 men
and their care givers attended. It was an exceptionally fun and informational
two hours! Participants learned about physical health issues related to being
a man and discussed social and environmental concerns. They even had the
opportunity to get out of their seats to do stretching exercises, interact
in activities and make new friends. The trainers were Peter Zavitsanos-PCHC
intern from the Undergraduate Public Health Program at Temple University,
Julio Nieves- Health Care Technical Assistance Specialist for PCHC and
Joyce Simons RN- Community Based Nurse for PCHC.
Here is what some of the attendees had to say:
- “I learned about the prostate and the importance of exams.”
- “I liked the game, nutrition and anatomy.”
- “I learned about the importance of encouraging our male counterparts
to see the doctor regularly. Encourage them not to be ashamed and
give them statistics on why he should go to the doctors regularly.”
- “This is a very useful training. It helps a lot.”
Look for the web based training and booklet on Men’s Health and Wellness coming
soon to the online training section of the PCHC website.
Contact PCHC to request a similar training at your organization by submitting a
Training Request Form.