Start Getting More Out of Life!

Men in Anne Arundel County are less likely than women to have good health habits. They eat more fatty foods and fewer fruits and vegetables, so it's no surprise that 68 percent of county men are overweight. Men also smoke at higher rates than women - in fact, men aged 18-34 smoke three times as much as other adults. And 60 percent of younger men never protect their skin with sunscreen.

Many county men end up with cancer, heart disease and other serious health problems because of their poor health habits. The good news is there are things you can do right now to improve your health, reduce your risk of disease and get more out of life. This page can help you get started.

Good Health Starts Here

You've heard that cigarettes cause lung cancer, but they can also give you heart disease, emphysema and other serious illnesses. Smoking even reduces the value of your house and your car, as well as costing money. Whether you've smoked for five years or 50, you can add years of healthy living to your life and save money by quitting now. These free publications and resources can help:

• Quit-Smoking Kit, includes the Change of Habit workbook and a list of local quit-smoking resources. Order it online or call the Learn To Live Line, 410-222-7979.
• Xtreme Quitting, a how-to booklet for younger guys or anyone who's into extreme sports. Includes a list of local quit-smoking resources. Order it online, download it or call the Learn To Live Line.
• Power to Quit: a stop-smoking guide for African-Americans. Order it online or call the Learn To Live Line.
• 50 Ways to Resist the Urge to Smoke: a brochure with helpful tips for getting through the first tough days of quitting. Call the Learn To Live Line.

No, you don't have to eat just salads for the rest of your life. Enjoy tasty fruits and vegetables, whole-grain breads and cereals. Cut your fat intake by treating yourself to lean meat, fish, skinned poultry and low-fat dairy products. Find out how you can eat well - even fast food - while controlling your weight:

• Fast Food Nutrition Guide: a booklet on how to eat well while eating fast food. Call the Learn To Live Line, 410-222-7979.
• Healthy Eating Kit: good nutrition tips and healthy recipes. Order it online or call the Learn To Live Line. Eat Smart For Better Health.
• HIM magazine: articles for healthy living, including good fast foods. Order it online, download it now, or call the Learn To Live Line.

Don't risk your neck - and other parts of your skin - by taking the sun for granted. Skin damage through burning and tanning can lead to cancer later. Learn how to enjoy the great outdoors while preventing skin cancer:

• Safe-In-The-Sun Kit: helps you protect your skin all year long. Order it online or call the Learn To Live Line, 410-222-7979.

Colorectal cancer may not be on the top of your worry list, but it's the second leading cancer killer. Everyone over 50 is at risk, but it can be prevented. Cut your risk with exercise and low-fat, high-fiber foods, and get the facts on prevention and screenings with the Colorectal Cancer Information Kit. Order it online or call the Learn To Live Line.

Get your free copy of HIM, the magazine of health ideas for men. You'll learn how to shape up and stay healthy with articles on exercise, eating good fast food, quitting smoking and preventing skin cancer. Order HIM online, download it now, or call the Learn To Live Line, 410-222-7979.

Hot Links!

• Sexually Transmitted Disease Services:
  www.aahealth.org/commdis_std.asp
• Gonorrhea (clap):
  www.aahealth.org/a2z.asp?ID=37
• HIV/AIDS:
  www.aahealth.org/commdis_hivaidsserv.asp

• www.aahealth.org/ltl_sun.asp
• www.cdc.gov/ChooseYourCover/

Let's work together to promote healthier living in Anne Arundel County.