It might not come as a big surprise to learn that when it comes to preventive health care, women visit their doctor's offices more frequently than do men. Regular medical checkups, where screenings for conditions such as high blood pressure, cholesterol, diabetes and some cancers are performed, can help identify symptoms of serious illnesses at their earliest and most treatable stages. Women understand this important message better and act on it more often than do men, according to a national survey conducted in 2003 by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Center for Health Statistics.

Many women are the "health care managers" for their families. Whether it's keeping track of their children's and parents' health care or following up on their partner's, father's, or brother's general well-being, most women have a lot of experience negotiating the health care system. From which questions to ask a health care provider during an office visit to which preventive health screenings to have and when to have them, women know the ropes.

Now's your chance. If you haven't been to an internist or primary care specialist in years for your "well-guy" checkup, make your appointment now. And, if the woman in your life is urging you to do so, heed her advice. At your checkup, you'll learn if you're at risk for heart disease, diabetes, colon cancer and prostate cancer, among other conditions, and what you can do to make and keep your lifestyle healthy.

Welcome to the NWHRC's "Men's Health Awareness Tool Kit." Here you'll find the information you need to help you keep your eye on the prize: a healthy future. If you're reading this as the manager of your family's health, share it with the men in your life; they'll be glad you did.

• Screening Guidelines: Know Your Numbers
  
  • Cholesterol
    
  • Colon Cancer
    
  • Diabetes
    
  • High Blood Pressure
    
  • Prostate Health
    
  • Testicular Cancer
    
  • Weight Management
    
• Become an Active Partner in Your Health Care
  
• Questions to Ask Your Health Care Professional
  
• Fact Sheet: Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) or Enlarged Prostate
  
• Risk Assessment: Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) or Enlarged Prostate
  
• Resources
  
• References

This publication was supported by an educational grant from sanofi-aventis.