Prevention Agenda Toward the Healthiest State
- ten priorities for improving the health of all New Yorkers
Aids Awareness Month - December 2008
Awareness of HIV/AIDS is an important part of New York State's prevention work. Educating and informing people about how HIV/AIDS is transmitted and how people can practice safer sex and avoid risk is important. HIV testing should be done especially for people with risk factors such as people who have multiple sex partners, gay and bi-sexual people, people who practice unsafe sex and people who use IV drugs.
Diabetes
Diabetes is the most rapidly growing chronic disease of our time, with the United States experiencing a tripling of its prevalence since 1980. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the lifetime risk of developing diabetes is now 1 in 3 for males, and 2 in 5 for females. Coupled with this is the grim prediction that the diabetes epidemic could actually lower the life expectancy of Americans for the first time in more than a century. In New York State alone, over 1 million residents have been diagnosed with diabetes, and it is estimated that another 470,000 have diabetes but are not aware.
The Great American Smokeout - November 16th, 2008
Nearly 19% of New York State adults age 18 and older smoke cigarettes with about 6.5% of people age 65 and older smoking. Approximately 25,000 deaths in New York State can be attributed to smoking every year (Center for Disease Control). November 18, 2008 is the 28th annual "Great American Smoke Out". On this day smokers are urged to quit for one day and hopefully will quit for longer and remain "smoke free" for life.
Breast Cancer Awareness
Breast Cancer can be treated effectively if detected early and a key aspect of detection is receiving a mammogram on an annual basis if you are 40 or older
