ESTABLISHING AN OFFICE OF MEN'S HEALTH: IS AMERICA READY?

Legislation addressing the unique health issues of men in the United States in the form of The Men's Health Of Act 2007 was introduced by United States Senator Michael Crapo (Republican - IDAHO), United States Congressman Baron Hill (Democrat -INDIANA) and United States Congressman Vito Fossella (Republican - NEW YORK).

If and when The Men's Health Act of 2007 becomes the law of the land, an Office of Men's Health within the United States Department of Health will be established.

What would an Office of Men's Health do? It would help to aggressively address the critical and unique health issues of men in the United States. It would do for Men's Health what the Office of Women's Health which was established in 1991 has done and continues to do for Women's Health in the United States.


Is America ready for the establishment of an Office For Men's Health within the United States Department of Health and Human Services? The startling statistics concerning men's health issues indicate that the need for the establishment of an Office For Men's Health within the United States Department of Health and Human Services has become a "critical path" issue:


Heart disease, diabetes, colon cancer, prostate cancer, hypertension, and Alzheimer's Disease are just a few of the unique health issues that confront men in the United States.


It is estimated that approximately 22.1% of men in the United States have coronary heart disease.

According to the American Cancer Society, prostate cancer accounts for approximately 9% of all cancer-related deaths in men. At least 186,320 new cases of prostate cancer will be reported in 2008 according to the American Cancer Society. It is estimated that in 2008, approximately 28,660 prostate cancer patients will die.

While colorectal cancer is believed to be the third most common form of cancer in the United States, men have a slightly higher risk of developing colorectal cancer than women. It is estimated that, in 2008, the number of adults diagnosed with colorectal cancer in the United States will reach approximately 148,810 – 77,250 of these individuals will be men and 71,560 will be women.

It is estimated that approximately 49,960 colorectal cancer patients will die in
2008. And it is further estimated that 24,260 men will succumb to colorectal cancer in 2008. Approximately 5,000,000 individuals in the United States have Alzheimer’s Disease. It is estimated that 1 in every 10 men is expected to be diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease by his 55th birthday!


So, what can Men, Fathers, Women and Mothers do to move America closer to establishing an Office For Men's Health within the United States Department of Health and Human Services?

Write to your legislators! A sample letter and sample e-mail which can be sent to your legislators is available for your use on the website of the Men's Health Policy at: http://www.menshealthpolicy.com/advocacyOhmLetter.php.


For further information about the establishment of the Office for Men's Health within the Department of Health and Human Services, visit the website of the Men's Health Policy at http://www.menshealthpolicy.com and/or the website of the Men's Health Network at www.menshealthnetwork.org.

Send a note to the Men's Health Network at: Men's Health Network, P.O. Box 75972, Washington, DC 20013. Or call the Men's Health Network at 202-543-6461. Or send an e-mail to the Men's Health Network at: info@menshealthnetwork.org.