Declare Men's Health Week

12-18, 2017, as Men's Health Week in the State of New York WHEREAS, June 12 through 18, 2017, marks the 23rd year for National Men's Health Week, with the sole purpose of heightening the awareness of preventable health problems and encouraging early detection and treatment of disease among men and boys; and WHEREAS, As we prepare to celebrate Father's Day and recognize the important men in our lives, it is critical that we bring attention to the unique health concerns many men are faced with; on average, a man's life expectancy is almost six years less than that of a woman; we need to give particular emphasis on the importance of public awareness and education to improve the life expectancy of men in the State of New York; and WHEREAS, National Men's Health Week was established by Congress in

1994 and urges men and their families to engage in appropriate health behaviors; the resulting increased awareness has improved health-related education and has helped prevent illness; and WHEREAS, The shift to prevention requires not only changes in the health care system, but also an awareness by the American public of the importance of regular visits to their physicians; and WHEREAS, Recognizing and preventing men's health problems are not just a man's issue; due to the impact on wives, mothers, daughters, and sisters, men's health is truly a family issue; and WHEREAS, Despite the advances in medical technology and research, men continue to live an average of approximately six years less than women; and WHEREAS, Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men, afflicting one out of every 11 American men and killing 34,000 men every year; for African-American men, the rate of affliction is even worse; African-American men have the highest incidence of prostate cancer in the world; and WHEREAS, In the past five years, the death rate for prostate cancer has grown to almost twice the death rate of breast cancer; and WHEREAS, Prostate cancer and many other health problems affecting men could be avoided if men's awareness of health screening tests were increased; heightening the awareness of preventable health problems and increasing early detection and treatment of disease would significantly improve our Nation's health, as well as save limited health care dollars; and WHEREAS, Women visit the doctor 1.5 times more often than men, enabling them to detect health problems in their early stages; and WHEREAS, Significant numbers of male related health problems such as prostate cancer, testicular cancer, infertility, and colon cancer, could be detected and treated if men's awareness of these problems was more pervasive; and WHEREAS, Appropriate use of tests such as Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) exams, blood pressure screens, cholesterol screens, etc., 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 increases in the survival rates to nearly 100 percent; and WHEREAS, Many men are reluctant to visit their health center or physician for regular screening examinations of male related problems for a variety of reasons including fear, lack of information, and cost factors; and WHEREAS, Men who are educated about the value that preventive health can play in prolonging their lifespan and their role as a productive family member will be more likely to participate in health screenings; and 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; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to memorialize Governor Andrew M. Cuomo, in celebration of its 20th year, to proclaim June 12-18, 2017, as Men's Health Week in the State of New York, in conjunction with the observance of National Men's Health Week; and be it further RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be transmitted to The Honorable Andrew M. Cuomo, Governor of the State of New York.