“There is a silent health crisis in America. … It’s the fact that, on average, American men live sicker and die younger than American women,” Dr. David Gremillion from Men’s Health Network said.
During the last 30 years, life expectancy for men has dropped in comparison to women, with women outliving men by more than five years. According to Men’s Health Network, this is because of lack of awareness, poor health education, and culturally induced behavior patterns in men’s work and personal lives.
By the age of 100, women outnumber men eight to one.
For any wife or mother, this uneven score is far from ideal. Men need to be concerned about their health, and they should be aware of the health risks and diseases they are susceptible to.
Heart disease
Heart disease is the leading cause of death for all Americans. More than one in three men have some form of cardiovascular disease, according to the American Heart Association. The AHA also states that men under 45 are more likely to have high blood pressure. Men in general are more likely to smoke cigarettes, which increases the risk of heart disease.
Injuries
In addition to smoking, men are more likely than women to drink to excess. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, men are more likely to drive fast or without a seat belt when drinking, which increases their risk of death or injury. The CDC also states that men have consistently higher rates of alcohol-related deaths and hospitalizations than women.
Men are more likely to die of unintentional injuries, accounting for more than 92 percent of all workplace deaths.
Cancer
The American Lung Association reports that men develop lung cancer more often than women. Smoking may be a contributing factor to this statistic, because it remains the leading cause of lung cancer.
In general, when comparing the same types of cancer, men are 12 percent more likely to die than women.
Men are more likely than women to drink excessively—and alcohol consumption also increases the risk of cancer of the mouth, throat, esophagus, liver, and colon cancer in men, according to the CDC.
Stroke
High blood pressure is a main risk factor for stroke, yet nearly one in three men with high blood pressure does not know he has it, the CDC says. Smoking can also contribute to stroke, and so can being obese. Almost three in four American men are in weight ranges that increase their risk of stroke.
More men than women are diagnosed with diabetes, which is also a contributing factor for strokes. Drinking too much alcohol increases the risk of stroke, as well.
Suicide
Men are more likely to commit suicide and more likely to have been drinking before committing suicide. Depression in men is often undiagnosed—contributing to the fact that men are four times more likely to commit suicide than women.
The worst part? Many of these diseases can be prevented, but women are 100 percent more likely to visit the doctor for annual examinations and preventive services than men.
Encourage the men in your life to visit the doctor regularly, use any preventive screenings they can, and make positive changes in their lifestyle. Eating healthy, exercising, and cutting out smoking and excessive drinking can go a long way when it comes to their health.