John McEnroe is Serious About Getting Men to Take the "50 Over 50 Prostate Health Challenge"
Three-time Wimbledon and four-time US Open Champion John McEnroe has teamed up with GlaxoSmithKline (NYSE: GSK) to create an enlarging prostate public education initiative entitled the "50 Over 50 Prostate Health Challenge."
Philadelphia, PA (PRWEB) April 5, 2009
Three-time Wimbledon and four-time US Open Champion John McEnroe has teamed up with GlaxoSmithKline (NYSE: GSK) to create an enlarging prostate public education initiative entitled the "50 Over 50 Prostate Health Challenge."
Fifty percent of men over 50 years of age have an enlarging prostate; if left untreated, an enlarged prostate can lead to worsening urinary symptoms and even prostate surgery.
"I just celebrated my 50th birthday, and while I'm still as active as ever, I know there are certain health issues I need to stay on top of, including my prostate health," said McEnroe. "Now I'm asking other men to take the '50 Over 50 Prostate Health Challenge.' It's all about talking to your doctor, getting serious about your prostate health, and learning about your risk factors for an enlarging prostate."
As a part of the campaign, an interactive web site, www.50over50challenge. com, has been created where men can start the "Prostate Health Challenge." The challenge is to take three easy steps to get serious about prostate health: a brief online prostate health assessment; seeing a doctor for a prostate exam; and knowing your PSA (Prostate-specific antigen) level. PSA level, obtained from a simple blood test, is a protein marker that can rise when an enlarged prostate condition is present.
McEnroe will also be featured in enlarging prostate public education video messages that will appear throughout the year on network television, internet sites and at 50over50challenge. com (http://www.50over50challenge. com/50-over-50-video-library. html). The first video vignette will air on April 4 in between the first and second games of the men's college basketball semi final on CBS. There will also be national print messages in March and April running in such publications as USA Today, Sports Illustrated, Time and Newsweek.
"Prostate health can be awkward to talk about, so we've created a series of hopefully memorable, vignettes to help get men talking. I am hoping my involvement will be motivational and encourage men to take the Challenge and take control of their prostate health," added McEnroe.
About Enlarging Prostate:
Enlarging prostate (http://www.50over50challenge. com) is a prevalent and progressive condition that affects approximately 50 percent of men over 50 years of age and over 90 percent of men older than age 80. An enlarged prostate can cause changes in urinary habits because of its location around the urethra. Over time, the prostate can continue to grow and urinary symptoms may worsen as the bladder loses the ability to empty itself. Initiating the conversation with your doctor and having a prostate exam can help to identify enlarging prostate symptoms and causes.
GlaxoSmithKline - one of the world's leading research-based pharmaceutical and healthcare companies - is committed to improving the quality of human life by enabling people to do more, feel better and live longer.
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