Lexington, KY - March is a month of challenges for lots of men in central Kentucky. The challenges they talk about most often involve the University of Kentucky Wildcats and other collegiate basketball teams engaged in tournament play, but there’s another challenge for men that involves something more important than basketball. That challenge is learning the numbers not of point spreads, but of matters related to their health, such as their blood pressure measurement or pulse count.
For many men, busy with the demands of careers and families, managing their health can be difficult. Factor in a culture that teaches that guys should ignore aches and pains to show how strong they are, and it’s not surprising that some men don’t pay enough attention to their health issues. But Central Baptist Hospital’s staff has a plan to counter that culture of neglect. The plan is an evening of entertainment and information to help central Kentucky men do a better job at taking care of themselves.
The hospital will host its second Men’s Health Challenge at the Keeneland Sales Pavilion on Tuesday, March 13, starting at 6 p.m. The first Challenge came about last year because of the success of various events the hospital presents for women.
Central Baptist belongs to the Spirit of Women network of hospitals across the country. As such, it “makes a concerted effort to provide health information to women and their families in an interesting, entertaining way,” explained Ruth Ann Childers, the hospital’s director of marketing and public relations.
Childers said that those efforts include monthly newsletters, quarterly magazines, email notifications and a monthly television program called Care Central on WKYT-TV. Health-centered special events for women with celebrity speakers are well-attended, Childers said.
Central Baptist’s CEO, William G. Sisson, and other male staff members attended the Day of Dance, Girls Night Out and other such events. They saw the value in these events and also thought other men would be interested in coming to an event focused on their particular health issues.
“They requested we have one dedicated to them,” said Childers. In response, the Men’s Health Challenge was launched, and about 250 people attended last year’s event.
Attendees can take advantage of free health screenings, including blood pressure and pulse measurements, diabetes risk assessment and measurement of BMI (body mass index, a ratio of fat to muscle). The man who wins the grip strength challenge will be awarded a prize as the strongest man in attendance.
“Know the Score” features a panel of doctors. Specialists in cardiology, gastroenterology, orthopedics, urology, internal medicine and family practice will field questions from attendees.
Childers said that last year’s physicians panel was well received.
“There were many interesting and thought-provoking questions from the audience,” Childers said.
She added that attendees may also have the opportunity to talk with the doctors one on one.
One of the physicians who attended the 2011 Challenge is Dr. Jeffrey Foxx.
“Men have traditionally had a lot of social conditioning to be tough or play through the pain, and that kind of thinking has led them to be reluctant to go for regular physical exams or ignore symptoms,” Foxx explained.
“I was encouraged by the number of questions asked by men at the event,” Foxx said. “I would hope that would lead to men making more trips to their doctors’ offices so that illnesses and diseases could be diagnosed early enough to be treated and even cured.”
This year’s event also will include a speech by former Florida State University football Coach Bobby Bowden. Childers said that when Coach Bowden spoke at a previous event for staff members, they knew then that they wanted to have him return for an event that was open to the public.
Bowden will talk about some past challenges he faced in his 57-year career on the football field. He will also talk about his biggest challenge — his battle against prostate cancer — and the importance of health screenings.
March is National Nutrition Month, so Central Baptist’s diabetes education coordinator Kathleen Stanley has teamed up with Turf Catering to create a menu for the event that includes vegetables, fruit, lean beef burgers and delicious desserts.
There will be giveaways, and attendees can also register for chances to win door prizes. Women are welcome to attend. The event is free, and interested participants can register by calling (859) 260-6174 or visiting www. centralbap.com.