University of Maryland Medical System Hosting “Let’s Talk About Health” Community Webinar Focusing On Men’s Health

Family history impacts one's health but everyday choices can have a big impact on current and future health. Men tend to not be as proactive as women about regular doctor visits, which often has a direct correlation on their health, explains Jason Federline, DO, a Family Medicine physician with the University of Maryland St. Joseph Medical Group.

Dr. Federline is presenting on men's health issues at a UMMS lunchtime community webinar on Wednesday, September 16th at 12pm as part of the System's "Let's Talk About Health" series. The webinar is free, and individuals are asked to register in advance on the UMMS website.

"It's critical that men and those who care for them focus on their health and well-being. When compared to women, men more likely to defer seeking medical attention for prevention, mental health, and sexual health. Men are also more likely to die prematurely, when compared to women, from preventable illness," said Dr. Federline.

Among the issues that Dr. Federline will be addressing are:

• Why it's important for men to have regular doctor visits – (Certain diseases and conditions may not have symptoms, so checkups help identify issues early or before they can become a problem)
• Men are half as likely to see a health care provider for a physical exam as women
• Men are dying at higher rates than women for 9 of the top 10 causes of death
• Nearly 1 in 3 men say they should be feeling "extremely sick" to see the doctor, a common barrier to seeking health care
• Nearly half (48 %) of men are diagnosed with at least one chronic condition
• Only half of all men older than age 18 meet federal physical activity guidelines for aerobic activity and exercise
• 21% of men die of all causes between the ages of 15-64 years compared to 12% of women
• Men's earlier mortality and higher rates of illness are due in part to less healthy lifestyles

"Through our free webinars, we are bringing our clinical expertise to communities across Maryland in hopes of offering education about a variety of important health topics," said Donna Jacobs, Senior Vice President, Government, Regulatory Affairs and Community Health, for UMMS.

About the University of Maryland Medical System

The University of Maryland Medical System (UMMS) is a university-based regional health care system focused on serving the health care needs of Maryland, bringing innovation, discovery and research to the care we provide and educating the state's future physician and health care professionals through our partnership with the University of Maryland School of Medicine and the UM Schools of Nursing, Pharmacy, Social Work and Dentistry in Baltimore. As one of the largest private employers in the State, the health system's 28,000 employees and 4,000 affiliated physicians provide primary and specialty care in more than 150 locations and at 13 hospitals. UMMS' flagship academic campus, the University of Maryland Medical Center in Baltimore is partnered with the University of Maryland School of Medicine and is recognized regionally and nationally for excellence and innovation in specialized care. Our acute care and specialty rehabilitation hospitals serve urban, suburban and rural communities and are located in 13 counties across the State. In addition, UMMS operates health insurance plans serving Medicare and Medicaid members. For more information, visit umms.org.

###