The 7th Annual African-American Male Health and Fitness Expo will be held this weekend on the West Side as Men’s Health Week in Illinois wraps up.
The free event, sponsored by the Illinois Department of Public Health, will run from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at Malcolm X College, 1900 W. Van Buren St. It will include a range of health seminars and free screenings for prostate cancer screenings, glucose, cholesterol, kidney disease, blood pressure, body mass index and HIV.
State health officials are excited about the prospect of reaching more Black men who statistically have health problems, such as prostate cancer.
“During Men’s Health Week, we must recognize that this is not just about men, it’s about entire families. Men today face many health and wellness issues, and it’s important they take the time to visit their doctors for a checkup,” said Dr. Damon Arnold, director of the Illinois Department of Public Health. “The outcome of prostate cancer, as well as many other health conditions, depends on early detection and treatment. That’s why it is important for men and their families to be aware of available screening options and other necessary information.”
He added that along with regular screenings and checkups, men should eat healthy foods, exercise regularly, minimize stress, keep alcohol consumption low and reduce or stop tobacco use.
The Illinois State Cancer Registry estimates approximately 8,100 new cases of prostate cancer will be diagnosed in Illinois this year and an estimated 1,400 Illinois men will die from it. One in four Black men will develop the disease, and those with a family history of prostate cancer are at an even higher risk, according to the State Cancer Registry.
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