Among the fifteen top causes of death in men and womenin the United States, men die from all of them more often than women, except for Alzheimer’s disease. The reasons behind this disparity isn’t exactly clear – part of it is biological, and part of it is personal lifestyle choices. Men just do not live as long as women. In fact, on average, men die five years earlier than women.

 

For many years, men’s health has not received as much attention as women’s. But if men are dying more often and at younger ages than women, how does that make sense? Unfortunately, raising awareness for men’s health has been difficult because men are not as comfortable as women in addressing their health. Men are less likely to visit a doctor than women, and often only seek healthcare when their spouse pushes for it, or when their illness or disease has advanced. 

Men’s health is a serious issue that needs more focus. Men are dying every day of diseases that can be prevented who whose risk can significantly be reduced. For men’s health to gain more attention, men need to “man up” and be their own advocates. Here are the top health threats men should be concerned about:

1. 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, andhigh 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.