Update on National Men’s Health Week 2012 – 11-17 June
Taking Heart: Promoting Heart Health in Men

Coronary heart disease is the most common cause of death – and premature death – for men in the UK. Heart disease disproportionately affects men – in the UK, 20,850 men die prematurely (before 75 years) from heart disease compared to 7,408 women – and especially men in lower income groups.

Organised by the Men’s Health Forum charity, Men’s Health Week will be relevant to men and their families as well as health professionals and organisations. The Week, which ends on Father’s Day, provides a great opportunity to remind dads that their health and wellbeing is important for the whole family.

For men and their families we will highlight:

• How children can help their dads stay or get healthy
• How dads can look after their heart health
• The importance of taking part in the NHS Health Check programme

For health professionals and organisations we will highlight:
• That the NHS Health Checks programme is a good way to get checks done in men but it needs promoting
• The strong link between erection problems and heart disease
• How they can organise fundraising events to help tackle men’s health

Peter Baker, chief executive of the Men’s Health Forum said:
“Heart disease robs many families of fathers. Men’s Health Week will help men find ways to get healthy and tell them about the signs to watch out for.

We hope families and workplaces will also donate or hold fundraising events so that we can build on our successes in tackling men’s health problems.”

Men and their families can find health information for men at www.malehealth.co.uk.
Health professionals can find out more and support Men's Health Week at www.menshealthforum.org.uk.

ENDS

Contact our press officer.

Notes:
1. The MHF is a charity that provides an independent and authoritative voice for male health in England and Wales and tackles the issues and inequalities affecting the health and well-being of men and boys.
2. The MHF is online at:
www.menshealthforum.org.uk for health professionals and policy makers, and www.malehealth.co.uk for fast, free, independent health info from the Men’s Health Forum.
@menshealthforum for updates on our work.