Alright men, listen up. You may have heard that men on average live about 5 years less than women. It’s true. It’s also true that out of the 15 leading causes of death, rates in men are higher than rates in women in all except Alzheimer’s disease (which many men don’t live long enough to develop).
Some of this has to do with biology, but there’s also a difference in the way the genders take care of their health. A lot of men don’t take minor ailments seriously, which leads to seeing their doctor less, so they’re more likely to let things get serious before they go.
Most men think that if they’re able to work and feel productive, then any health issue they’re experiencing isn’t worth extra attention.
However, even the healthiest men can benefit from planning ahead to make sure you stay healthy. Many of the top threats to men’s health are commonly known and preventable. Here’s some insight into these conditions and how to avoid them.
Cardiovascular Disease
This is the leading threat to men’s health. A “hardening of the arteries” called atherosclerosis develops earlier in men than it does in women.
One in five people will die from cardiovascular disease, regardless of gender. It affects men earlier than women, typically around age 65 (source).
Starting in adolescence, men’s arteries don’t look as healthy as women’s. This makes it important for men to start early and take extra care to reduce their risk of heart disease and stroke.
Here are some ways to get started:
- Check your cholesterol every 5 years, beginning at age 25
- Control high blood pressure and cholesterol with healthy diet and exercise (if needed, with medication)
- Stop or avoid smoking
- Include a minimum of 30 minutes of daily physical activity 3 or more days per week
- Focus your diet on whole foods, fruits and vegetables, and avoid processed foods and trans fats.
Lung Cancer
Lung cancer is one type that spreads easily in the body, even before it causes symptoms or shows up on an x-ray (source).
Advanced cancers are more difficult to cure, so mortality rates are higher with lung cancer because it spreads quickly and often goes unnoticed.
Are you a smoker?
Lung cancer is still the leading killer in men, even though smoking rates are falling.
There is still no effective screening test for lung cancer. Although there is a study currently exploring the efficacy of CT scans for early detection.
If you’re still smoking, the best thing you can do for your health is quit. There are plenty of new tools and strategies available to help. Talk to your doctor for more information.
Prostate Cancer
This is a uniquely male cancer – since women don’t have prostates.
The prostate is prone to problems as men age. One in six men will develop prostate cancer, though only one in 35 will die from it.
Your best chance at early detection is to have a regular prostate exam and a blood test for prostate specific antigen (PSA).
It’s best to talk to your doctor about your overall risk of prostate cancer. Some experts warn that detecting prostate cancer could lead to aggressive treatments that may result in impotence or incontinence, without necessarily knowing the severity of the cancer to begin with.
Discuss your options for screening with your doctor to decide what’s best for you.
Depression and Suicide
Previously experts thought that depression affected more women than men. This is not necessarily the case.
Depression is a mood disorder that affects your whole body, level of motivation and ability to participate in life. Men may be less likely to express sadness, or talk to their doctor about feelings of depression, which is why cases are thought to be higher in women.
Rather than showing sadness, men express depression through anger and aggression. They’re also less likely to seek help.
While more women attempt suicide, men are more likely to have successful attempts. Suicide is the eighth leading cause of death among men.
If you think you might be depressed, talk to your doctor or someone close to you to find help. Most people with depression respond well to treatment with medication and/or therapy.
Diabetes
Elevated blood sugar levels in diabetes often begin unnoticed. Eventually, as blood sugar levels increase signs like frequent urination and thirst may cause men to seek help from their doctor.
The excess glucose in the blood slowly damages blood vessels and nerves throughout the body. This can result in things like heart attack, stroke, kidney failure or even amputation of limbs.
Rates of diabetes are increasing alongside rates of obesity. Luckily, there are things you can do to prevent diabetes. Eating a healthy diet that’s balanced in protein, complex carbohydrates and healthy fats will improve your blood sugar control. Avoiding foods that are heavily processed or contain high amounts of sugar are also beneficial. Exercise plays a role as well as it keeps the body functioning properly and reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease.
For those who are overweight, seek moderate weight loss. One study of high risk men shows that adding 30 minutes of daily physical activity has been shown to reduce the risk of diabetes by 50% in men.
Summary
While there are several health risks that are of concern to men, there is a lot that can be controlled when it comes to preventing these (and other) conditions. Maintaining a healthy weight through a whole-food diet and daily exercise is one of the best things men can do to ensure your health and longevity.