The Health Sciences Spotlight

November Health Advocacy

November is a month for lots of things - turkey, football, leaves, beating people down on Black Friday - but you may not be aware of two very important health initatives going on this month.  Cleverly situated between Halloween candy binges and cookies laid out for Santa, November is American Diabetes Month, "a time to rally individuals, communities and families to Join the Millions in the movement to Stop Diabetes" (ADA, 2011).  In addition to being a time to push for an end to diabetes, November is also when "men and women across the globe join together to raise awareness and funds for men’s health issues." Delightfully named "Movember," men are urged to "grow a Mo (moustache) for 30 days to become walking, talking billboards, for our men’s health causes - specifically cancers affecting men" (Movember, 2011).  While biomedical and health sciences researchers plug away at trying to eradicate diabetes and cancer, it's our job to be health advocates for the causes and bolster their efforts with public support.

American Diabetes Month

Diabetes is a serious health issue that is quickly affecting a large section of the population. Today, nearly 26 million American children and adults live with diabetes, and according to the ADA, 79 million more are at high risk for developing type 2 diabetes.  The problem is that many Americans don't see diabetes as a serious issue that can affect them directly. The ADA states that:

• "Every 17 seconds, someone is diagnosed with diabetes.
• Diabetes kills more people each year than breast cancer and AIDS combined.
• Recent estimates project that as many as 1 in 3 American adults will have diabetes in 2050 unless we take steps to Stop Diabetes" (ADA, 2011).

Those who would like to be involved in American Diabetes Month can do the following all through November and beyond:

• Take the American Diabetes Month pledge on Facebook
• Attend an American Diabetes Month event in your area
• Visit www.stopdiabetes.com
• Call 1-800-DIABETES
• Text JOIN to 69866 (standard data and message rates apply)
• Be an example to those you love by living a healthy lifestyle

Movember

Sadly, men's health suffers from a lack of awareness and a male reluctance to openly discuss the issues. "Men are less likely to schedule doctors’ appointments when they feel ill or for an annual physical, thereby denying them the chance of early detection and effective treatment of common diseases" (Movember, 2011).

The Movember website states some heartbreaking facts about men's health: (Image Credit)

• 1 in 2 men will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime.

  

• 8,290 men will be diagnosed with [testicular cancer] and 350 will die.
• An estimated 115,060 men will be diagnosed with lung cancer and 85,600 men will die from the disease.
• While not as common, men can get breast cancer. About 2,140 new cases of invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed among men and about 450 men will die from the disease
• An estimated 43,890 men will be diagnosed with skin cancer and 8,080 men will die from the disease.
• An estimated 13 million adult men over the age of 20 in the US have diabetes- and a third do not know it
• 1 in 8 men who suffer from mental illness actually seek help
• Four times as many men commit suicide compared with women
• 24% of men are less likely to go to the doctor compared to women

Men who would like to get involved with the Movember cause can register to grow 'staches at Movember.com as part of a team or as an individual. Women can:

• Register online to recruit a team and raise money
• Organize events like Mo Parties
• Make a donation to a participant
• Attend the Gala Partés
• Purchase Movember merchandise 

Let's make November about giving thanks for our own health and for saving the lives of others.