June is Men’s Health Month
Statistics show that men are more apt to smoke and drink alcohol than women and they’re more likely to be overweight than women. The average life expectancy for U.S. males is five years shorter than for females, and not all that difference is due to biology but also, could be due to lifestyle. Studies have found that men are often less likely to go to the doctor than women. According to a large national survey conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 17% of men said they didn’t have a “usual place to go for medical care” compared to just 10% of women. An article by Physicians Health Medical Care (PHMC), stated that life expectancy for men is five years less than that of women, and men are up to 50% less likely than women to go to the doctor.
There are certain risk factors that men need to be aware of that they are more prone to than women. Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men in the United States, aside from skin cancer, and the second leading cause of cancer death in men, after lung cancer. About 1 in 8 men will develop prostate cancer in their lifetime, and the risk increases with age. For this reason, men should have a yearly exam to check for prostate issues. Other screenings include a colonoscopy to check for colon issues, blood work to check for issues like high cholesterol or diabetes, and EKGs (electrocardiograms) to check for heart problems. It is recommended that men get their blood pressure checked yearly and their cholesterol checked every 1-5 years, depending on their age and levels.
It is advised that men be aware of the important role the hormone testosterone plays in their bodies. Testosterone is the androgenic sex hormone responsible for hair growth, muscle mass and strength, bone density, fat distribution and more. There is a natural decline in testosterone levels between the ages of 30 to 40 and causes of low testosterone can include: being overweight and carrying excess belly fat, physical inactivity, poor nutrition, excessive alcohol consumption, or having medical problems including untreated sleep apnea or diabetes.
