Did you know that almost twice as many men as women die of cardiovascular disease complications? Or that in general men don’t live as long as women do? High school males are more likely than females to smoke cigarettes, and of the 87.3 million Americans with pre-diabetes, almost 60 percent of them are men. Men of Baltimore, it’s time to start being more aware of your health so you can live longer and healthier lives!

As the dust settles after some moments of unrest, we emerge with a greater sense of respect for those that continue to do amazing work for the city of Baltimore. Earlier this month, a group of emergency physicians / health policy fellows from George Washington University and the University of Maryland embarked on a journey to visit Baltimore City Health Commissioner Dr. Leana Wen and her staff.  While visiting we developed a deeper appreciation for the hard work and powerful initiatives that continue to take place in this great city.

Over the last week, Baltimore’s unrest has captured the nation’s attention. Images of burning cars, the sounds of angry protesters and peace rallies have dominated the airwaves and headlines. As the city’s health commissioner, I heard other stories. I spoke with a 62-year-old woman who had a heart attack a year ago and who had stopped taking her blood pressure and blood-thinning medications. Her pharmacy was one of the dozen that burned down, and neither she nor the other people in her senior housing building could figure out where to get their prescriptions filled. 

Baseball season in Baltimore is not the only reason to “Go Orange” in April.  April is also the ASPCA’s Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Month when supporters are urged to raise awareness about the problem by “Going Orange for Animals.”  Baltimore City Health Department Animal Control Officers will join the effort in by wearing orange ribbons this month to bring attention to the issue while performing their normal duties.