8 health threats that affect men

/

.    Heart Disease

  • Leading cause of death for men in the United State, killing 307,225 men in 2009 – 1 in every 4 male deaths.
  • 50% of men who die of heart disease have no previous symptoms.
  • Between 70% and 89% of sudden cardiac events occur in men.
  • Leading risk factors: High LDL cholesterol, high blood pressure, smoking, and diabetes are some of the risk factors for heart disease.

 

2.    Stroke

  • Third leading cause of death in the United States.
  • Stroke death rates are higher for African-Americans than for whites, even at younger ages.
  • Each year, about 795,000 people suffer a stroke. 
  • Leading risk factors: High blood pressure, smoking, diabetes, carotid or other artery disease, atrial fibrillation or other heart disease, TIAs (mini-strokes), high red blood cell count, sickle cell anemia, high cholesterol, physical inactivity, obesity, excessive alcohol intake and some illegal drugs.

3.    Cancer

  • Lung Cancer, Prostate Cancer, Colorectal Cancer, Testicular Cancer
  • Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths in men. 90% is caused by smoking.
  • Prostate cancer and skin cancer are the most common types of cancer.
  • Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the U.S. and the third most common cancer in men and women.
  • Leading risk factors: Race (African-Americans have highest risk for prostate cancer), obesity, smoking, age, and family history of cancer are just some of the most common risk factors.

4.    Diabetes

  • 29.1 million people in the United States have diabetes, and 8.1 million may be undiagnosed and unaware of their condition.
  • 1.7 million new cases of diabetes were diagnosed in U.S. adults in 2012.
  • Leading risk factors: Obesity, physical inactivity, family history, race (African-Americans, Hispanics, American Indians and Asian-Americans are at higher risk), age, and high blood pressure.

5.    Depression and Suicide

  • Highest among white males.
  • Four times higher among men than women.
  • Eight leading cause of death among men; higher for younger men.
  • Leading risk factors: Mental health conditions, substance abuse, or serious or chronic health conditions.

6.    Erectile dysfunction

  • Two-thirds of men older than 70 and up to 39% of 40-year-old men have problems with erectile dysfunction.
  • Leading risk factors: Most often caused by atherosclerosis, damaged nerves after surgery, neurological or psychological factors, certain medications, or chronic illness.

7.    COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease)

  • 80-90% of COPD deaths are caused by smoking.
  • Men are nearly 12 times as likely to die from COPD then men who don’t smoke.
  • Leading risk factors: Smoking.

8.    Kidney Disease

  • More than 26 million American adults have chronic kidney disease and millions more are at risk and don’t know it.
  • Leading risk factors: Diabetes, high blood pressure, and family history.