Men's Health

Healthy Habits are Powerful

When it comes to health, there are big differences between men and women, and these differences aren’t just limited to anatomy. Yes, only men are susceptible to conditions like prostate cancer and erectile dysfunction.  And, men are at higher risk for other conditions like alcoholism and earlier death from heart attack.  But despite these risks, too many men don’t take their health seriously.

According to the U.S. Department of Health, men are 24 percent less likely than women to have visited a doctor in the last year.  Men are also more likely than women to be hospitalized for certain conditions, including congestive heart failure, diabetes and pneumonia. 

Many of the health conditions that affect men, including the top causes of death, which are listed below, can be prevented or managed through healthy living and/or with the help of a doctor. 

Healthy living means eating well, exercising and getting the checkups and screening tests appropriate for your age.  Of course, that also means not smoking and drinking only in moderation.  To eat well, follow a diet full of natural foods like fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and no-fat or low-fat dairy.  Protein from lean meats like seafood and poultry, and non-meat sources like beans and nuts are also part of a healthy diet.  Try to reduce saturated ,which can be found in animal products like butter, cheese and red meat, and avoid trans fats altogether (found in a lot of processed foods like cakes, cookies, and crackers).  Exercise is a key component of healthy living, so aim for at least 30 minutes of exercise every day.  While these healthy living steps are important, it’s also important to visit your doctor for scheduled checkups and screenings.  In many instances, these tests can detect health issues early, while they are most treatable. 

Screening Tests for Men

The following link take you to a US Preventive Services Task Force chart that lays out the guidelines for the most important screening tests for men in any given age group. Realize that these are guidelines only, and your doctor may suggest alternative screening schedules and additional tests based on many factors determined by your personal profile and family history.

Leading Causes of Death Among Men

Heart Disease: Heart disease is a term used to describe a number of conditions including coronary artery disease, heart failure and heart arrhythmias, or irregular heartbeats.  Coronary heart disease is the most common type of heart disease and occurs when blockages form in the arteries that supply the heart with blood.  These blockages are the leading cause of heart attacks.  To lower your risk of all types of heart disease, start screening for high cholesterol at age 35, or at age 20 if you’re at risk.  Starting at age 18, get tested for high blood pressure every 2 years.  A reading of 120 over 80 or below is normal.  If your reading is higher, get screened every year and talk to your doctor about treatments for lowering your blood pressure.  Chronic high blood pressure, or hypertension, can lead to organ damage, stroke, and heart attack.

Cancer: Cancer as a category of disease is the second leading cause of death in men.  The most common cancers among men are prostate cancer, lung cancer and colorectal cancer.  While prostate cancer is the most common type of cancer for men, it isn’t the deadliest.  That’s because prostate cancer typically develops and spreads slowly.  Lung cancer, however, is the leading cause of cancer deaths among men.  About 90% of lung cancer deaths are due to smoking.  The best thing you can do to lower your risk of lung cancer is to not smoke, or quit if you do. 

Colorectal cancer is the third type of cancer most common in men.  It typically occurs after age 50.  The good news about colorectal cancer is that it can be detected early in many cases.  In fact, the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says deaths from colorectal cancer could be cut by 60% if all people 50 years and older received regular screenings.  Those screenings should begin with a colonoscopy at age 50 for both men and women.  There is controversy over whether screening tests for prostate and lung cancer saves lives, so talk to your doctor about your risks and what tests are right for you.

Unintentional injuries: Injuries from accidents such as car accidents, falls and fires are the third leading cause of death in men.  They also account for about one in every four emergency room visits.  While nobody plans to have an accident, many can be prevented.  Always wear a seatbelt when driving, or riding in a car.  Don’t drink and drive, and don’t accept rides from an impaired driver.  Avoid distractions like talking on the phone or checking email or texts when driving, and don’t drive if you’re tired.  Exercising to improve balance can help prevent falls.  Be careful when climbing ladders, and using power tools.  Fire safety is also important.  Install smoke and carbon monoxide detectors in your home, and check them every year.

Chronic Lower Respiratory Diseases: Another reason to quit smoking is to cut the risk of emphysema and chronic bronchitis.  Both conditions create blockages in the airways, making it difficult to breath.  When these blockages are long-term and don’t go away, you may be diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD.  The most common symptoms are a chronic cough and shortness of breath.  Quit smoking, and reduce your exposure to chemicals and pollutants to reduce your risk of developing COPD.

Stroke: Strokes occur when blood flow, and hence the oxygen supply to the brain, are cut off.  Strokes can be due to a blockage in a blood vessel, or a rupture in a blood vessel that carries blood to the brain.  Strokes are serious and need to be treated immediately.  Symptoms include a sudden numbness in a limb, or one side of the body.  Trouble speaking, or seeing out of either eye, dizziness, sudden and severe headaches can also be signs of a stroke.  If you experience any of these symptoms call 911, or see a doctor immediately.  Reduce your risk of stroke by having cholesterol, and blood pressure checked.  Quit smoking, and control your blood sugar if you have diabetes.  Exercise regularly and lose weight if you are overweight or obese.   

Diabetes: Uncontrolled diabetes is not only a leading cause of death, but also a leading cause of heart disease, blindness and kidney disease.  It’s also believed that one third of people with diabetes don’t know they have the disease.  So, it’s important to get tested for diabetes and control blood sugar, cholesterol and blood pressure if you have it.  The best way to prevent, and control diabetes is to maintain a healthy weight and eat a nutritious diet low in sugar and simple carbohydrates like white bread and rice, pasta and starchy vegetables like potatoes.

Suicide: Suicide affects both men and women, but it is a leading cause of death among men.  In fact, men are four times more likely than women to kill themselves, because they are more likely to use firearms and other deadly methods.  While deaths from suicide are alarming, most suicide attempts don’t result in death, making suicidal behavior a big public health problem.  Depression is a major cause of suicidal behavior, so it’s important to recognize the symptoms of depression.  These include feelings of worthlessness, fatigue, loss of interest in activities that were once enjoyed, alcohol or substance abuse and even reckless behavior. 

Influenza and Pneumonia: Two upper respiratory infections, influenza and pneumonia, are also leading causes of death among men.  Influenza, or “the flu,” is caused by viruses and is contagious.  Pneumonia is often caused by a bacterial infection, but can also be caused by viruses or fungal infection.  Pneumonia is not typically contagious.  While bacterial infections, like many cases of pneumonia, can be treated with antibiotics, there is no treatment or cure for viral infections.  However, there are vaccines that can reduce your risk of both pneumonia and influenza.  So, getting vaccinated is one of the best ways to reduce your risk of both conditions.  Other prevention steps include frequent hand washing, avoiding those sick with either condition, and in the case of pneumonia, not smoking.  If you do become infected with either the flu, or pneumonia, stay home until your symptoms are gone.  This will help protect your coworkers, family and friends from “catching” it from you. 

Kidney Disease: Kidney disease occurs when the kidneys lose their ability to filter the blood and remove waste and excess water from the body.  Untreated kidney disease can lead to swelling in the feet, legs, arms, face and hands, changes in urination, fatigue, confusion, dizziness, coma and death.  Severe kidney disease may need to be treated with dialysis or even a kidney transplant.  Kidney disease is often a complication of uncontrolled diabetes, and high blood pressure.  It’s important to be screened for proper liver function if you’ve been diagnosed with diabetes or high blood pressure, since kidney disease progresses slowly and isn’t usually caught until the kidneys have almost failed.  There is no cure for the disease, but it can be managed if caught early through preventive screening.

Alzheimer’s Disease: Alzheimer’s Disease is one type of dementia common among senior citizens.  It typically affects those over the age of 65, and is especially prevalent in people over 85 years old.  The disease is marked by a steady decline in mental function, including memory and the ability to think and comprehend.  Alzheimer’s disease can also cause a change in personality, mood swings and ultimately depression.  There is no cure for Alzheimer’s disease. Researchers believe we might be able to reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s by getting regular aerobic exercise and controlling the other major risk factors for chronic disease that we’ve enumerated above; not smoking, eating well, and controlling blood pressure, blood sugar, cholesterol and reducing excess weight. On average, a person lives about eight years after the diagnosis of Alzheimer’s.