Vibrance is proud to participate with the Men's Health Network (MHN) carrying their weekly newsletter updates, surveys and support information. The Men's Health Network is a national non-profit organization whose mission is to reach men and their families where they live, work, play, and pray with health prevention messages and tools, screening programs, educational materials, advocacy opportunities, and patient navigation.
Celebrate Men’s Health Month with us in Times Square We will be teaming up with championship racecar driver Terry Labonte and men's health expert Dr. Harry Fisch to kick off Men's Health Week at the T-Talk Tune-Up Men's Health Event designed to encourage men to take care of their bodies the same way they take care of their cars. Dr. Fisch will offer health tips for men, such as five of the most important health tests every man should know about including one for low testosterone, and Terry will talk about why he is encouraging men to take charge of their health and his tips for car care. The event will take place at Military Island (Broadway & 7th Ave. between 43rd and 44th St.) in Times Square, New York, NY from 12 - 2 pm. The event will feature vintage cars from the 1930s to the 1960s, including a 1969 Porsche 911. [Click here to see all the details.] Is smoking Hookah as safe as you think it is? As smoking hookah becomes more popular across the US, particularly on college campuses and at bars featuring the glass and metal water pipes, college administrators, legislators and health advocates are taking action against them. Bills are being introduced at the state and city levels to ban or limit hookah bars. Many young adults are misled by the sweet, aromatic and fruity quality of hookah smoke, which causes them to believe it is less harmful than hot, acrid cigarette smoke. In fact, because a typical hookah session can last up to an hour, with smokers typically taking long, deep breaths, the smoke inhaled can equal 100 cigarettes or more, according to a 2005 study by the World Health Organization. [Read the full article from NYTimes.com here] Better Hearing Institute Promotes Men's Health Week For the second year in a row, Better Hearing Institute is urging men to pay special attention to their hearing health during Men's Health Week. They are also encouraging men to take part in their online hearing check, Across America Hearing Check. According to the Better Hearing Institute "Sixty percent of the 34 million people with hearing loss in the United States are male. And it remains one of the most commonly unaddressed health conditions in America today. In fact, more than 15 million men in the United States suffer from unaddressed hearing loss, which often affects their quality of life and physical and emotional health." It's partnerships like these that help make Men's Health Month and Men's Health Week a success. Men, take a few minutes to check your hearing today! [Learn more about the Better Hearing Institute] Promising new male birth control concept New science has emerged that may make a male birth control pill a possibility. A recent study found that a compound that interferes with the body's ability to use vitamin A rendered male mice sterile while they were receiving 8- or 16-week courses. But once the mice were taken off the compound, they resumed making sperm. Significantly, the researchers found no side effects, and the testosterone levels of the mice stayed normal, meaning no fluctuations in mousey libido. There are still concerns that by blocking retinoic acid, the metabolically active form that your body converts Vitamin A into, it may interfere with functions in other tissues and could eventually show side effects. [Read the full article here.] Breaking down the barriers of pre-existing conditions Many people with pre-existing conditions have struggled with obtaining and keeping health insurance. The Affordable Care Act of 2009 attempts to eliminate this discriminatory practice and make insurance available (and more affordable) to more of those with pre-existing conditions through the Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan. New eligibility standards and lower premiums in some states, announced by the Department of Health and Human Services on May 31, will now make this program created by the Affordable Care Act available to many more Americans. To be eligible for the Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan you must be a legal resident of the U.S., you must have been without health coverage for at least the last six months, and you must have a pre-existing condition or have been denied coverage because of your health condition. [Visit PCIP.gov to get answers to your questions and to apply online today.] Parenting & Relationships Dad's just do some things better Happy early Father's Day to all of the Dad's out there. Mothers and Fathers often have different styles of parenting and this can sometimes cause tension in marriages and families. Emily Bloch from Parenting.com reflects on why Dad's parenting technique can be better and that sometimes Father does know best. [Read the full article on Parenting.com here] Policy & Politics Ask President Obama to make the White House blue for Prostate Cancer Awareness What better way to take a small action with big impact this Men's Health Month. Join with thousands of others across the country to ask President Obama to light the White House blue this September in honor of Prostate Cancer Awareness. Lighting the White House blue for one night during Prostate Cancer Awareness Month September 2011 will raise Prostate Cancer awareness by asking all Americans to consider Prostate Cancer’s impact on our country. Lighting the White House blue might even get some guys to think about going to see their doctors and ask about Prostate Cancer testing. [Sign the letter today.] Upcoming Events Men's Health Month Each June, Men's Health Month is celebrated to heighten the awareness of the health of men and boys. It is the perfect time to plan a men's health activity in your workplace, community or place of worship. Check out all of the events that are going on around the globe on our online calendar. Not sure where to start? Consider hosting a Wear Blue event to remind men of the importance of staying healthy and as family and friends to let men know that we care. Wear Blue and become part of a national movement. Learn how to get started here. For other ideas visit www.menshealthmonth.org 4th Annual Men's Health Summit: "Building Boys and Mending Men" On June 11, 2011 the Church Health Center and Men's Health Network will present the 4th Annual Men's Health Summit: Building Boys and Mending Men. The event will include free health screenings, community resources, teenage sexuality information, free breakfast and lunch, giveaways and prizes. It will take place at the UT Student Alumni Center at 800 Madison Avenue, Memphis, Tennessee from 8:30 am- 2:00. Learn more and register online here by June 3rd by calling 901.830.9886
