R 120930Z JUL 00
FM CMC WASHINGTON DC//M&RA//
TO MARADMIN
BT
UNCLAS
MARADMIN 339/00
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC M&RA//
SUBJ/AUGUST 2000 HEALTH PROMOTION MESSAGE//
POC/M. W. GILDAY/CAPT/CMC MRS/TEL:(703) 784-9542/TEL:DSN 278-9542
/TEL:DSN FAX 278-9822//
RMKS/1. IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE FY 2000 NATIONAL HEALTH INFORMATION
CENTER, THE HQMC MONTHLY HEALTH PROMOTION MESSAGE THEME FOR AUGUST
2000 HAS BEEN DESIGNATED AS MEN'S HEALTH AND FITNESS.
2. THIS MESSAGE WILL FOCUS ON HEALTH ISSUES THAT ARE OF SIGNIFICANT
IMPORTANCE TO MEN, AND WILL PROVIDE SOME IDEAS ON HOW TO PREVENT
THESE HEALTH ISSUES FROM NEGATIVELY AFFECTING HEALTH AND LIFE.
3. FIRST AND FOREMOST IS HEART DISEASE; THE LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH
IN THE UNITED STATES. CORONARY ARTERY DISEASE IS THE UNDERLYING
CAUSE OF MOST CARDIAC PROBLEMS. RISKS ARE INCREASED WITH AGE,
SMOKING, HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE, DIABETES, HIGH CHOLESTEROL, AND A
FAMILY HISTORY OF HEART DISEASE. PREVENTION OF HEART DISEASE
CONSISTS OF COMMON SENSE ACTIONS. MAINTAIN A HEALTHY BODY WEIGHT
(BODYFAT BETWEEN 11 AND 18 PERCENT), EAT A DIET HIGH IN GRAINS, FRUITS, AND VEGETABLES (FOCUS ON DECREASING SATURATED FATS).
CHOLESTEROL LEVELS SHOULD BE CHECKED A MINIMUM OF EVERY FIVE YEARS,
MORE OFTEN IF IT IS ELEVATED. DEVELOP AND MAINTAIN A CONSISTENT
EXERCISE PROGRAM. USE CAUTION WHEN EXERCISING, ESPECIALLY WHEN
MOVING TO NEW CLIMATES. ALLOW YOUR BODY TO ACCLIMATIZE TO ITS NEW
ENVIRONMENT PRIOR TO HARD EXERCISE.
4. LUNG CANCER IS THE LEADING CAUSE OF CANCER DEATHS IN BOTH MEN
AND WOMEN. RISK FACTORS INCLUDE TOBACCO USE AND EXPOSURE TO
ENVIRONMENTAL CARCINOGENS. OVER 86 PERCENT OF LUNG CANCER CASES ARE
RELATED TO TOBACCO USE. TOBACCO USE CESSATION IS THE NUMBER ONE
CANCER RISK REDUCTION FACTOR.
5. PROSTATE CANCER ACCOUNTS FOR A VERY LARGE NUMBER OF CANCER
DEATHS. RISKS OF PROSTATE CANCER INCREASE WITH AGE (BEGINNING AT
50). PROSTATE CANCER RATES ARE HIGHER AMONG AFRICAN AMERICANS, AND
THOSE WITH A FAMILY HISTORY. THE RISK REDUCTION ACTIONS ALREADY
LISTED ABOVE MAY HELP PREVENT PROSTATE CANCER. THERE CURRENTLY IS
NO ROUTINE SCREENING PROGRAM, BUT THOSE AT RISK SHOULD CONSULT A
PHYSICIAN.
6. TESTICULAR CANCER IS THE MOST COMMON FORM OF CANCER IN YOUNGER
MEN (AGES 20-35). RISK FACTORS INCLUDE A HISTORY OF TESTICULAR
PROBLEMS. ALL MEN SHOULD CONDUCT A MONTHLY SELF EXAM, AND HAVE AN
ANNUAL EXAM CONDUCTED BY A DOCTOR.
7. ACHIEVING SUCCESS IN FITNESS DOES NOT INVOLVE SECRETS. THE KEY
INGREDIENTS TO BECOMING FIT INCLUDE GOOD NUTRITION, A SOUND EXERCISE
PROGRAM, AND SUPPLEMENTATION IN AREAS WHERE MARINES MAY BE DEFICIENT.
IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT CAUTION SHOULD BE EXERCISED AT ALL
TIMES WHEN TAKING SUPPLEMENTS. ALL INSTRUCTIONS ON THE LABEL MUST
BE FOLLOWED. TAKING MORE OF A SUPPLEMENT THAN RECOMMENDED MAY CAUSE
MEDICAL PROBLEMS, AND WILL NOT INCREASE THE BENEFITS.
8. BE AWARE OF THE RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH SUPPLEMENTATION. THE
CONSUMPTION OF PERFORMANCE ENHANCING SUPPLEMENTS IS AT AN ALL TIME
HIGH. MANY MARINES BELIEVE THAT SUPPLEMENTS ALONE (WITHOUT PROPER
EXERCISE) CAN CREATE THE DESIRED PHYSIQUE, OR THAT SUPPLEMENTS CAN
REPLACE FOOD AND WATER AS THE PRIMARY SOURCE OF ENERGY. OTHERS
BELIEVE THAT WHEN IT COMES TO SUPPLEMENTS, THE MORE THE BETTER. AS A
RESULT, ADVERSE HEALTH EVENTS ARE ON THE RISE. EXAMPLES OF THESE
ADVERSE EVENTS INCLUDE HEADACHES, HEART PALPITATIONS, HIGH BLOOD
PRESSURE, SEIZURES, AND EVEN DEATH. AS LEADERS, ALL MARINES MUST BE
ON THE LOOKOUT FOR SIGNS THAT SOMETHING MAY BE WRONG WITH THEIR
FELLOW MARINE, AND INDIVIDUALS MUST ADMIT TO THEMSELVES THAT
SOMETHING MIGHT BE WRONG.
9. ENHANCING OUR READINESS FOR THE CHALLENGES OF THE 21ST CENTURY
REQUIRES THAT ALL MARINES BE PROACTIVE IN ENHANCING HEALTHY
LIFESTYLES FOR A FIT AND READY FORCE.//
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