It is known that men face more daunting health odds than women this could be due to biology, the type of work they do, or the fact many men place their health last on their list of what to take care of. Every man will have his own individual reasons for the condition of his health, but if they took the time to become more aware of conditions they are at risk for.
Here are the top 5 health risks many men face today.
Cardiovascular disease:
The American Heart Association states that more than one in three adult men has some form of cardiovascular disease. Heart disease and stroke are the leading causes of death in men.
Several things men can do to reduce their risk include the following:
- Beginning at age 25 and then every five years after, get cholesterol levels checked
- Keep blood pressure under control
- Either quit smoking or never start to begin with
- Increase physical activity to at least 30 minutes each day, most days of the week
- Eat a more plant-based diet and less saturated and trans fats
Skin cancer
Skin cancer is the most common cancer in the U.S. and men contract this disease more frequently than women. Two-thirds of melanoma deaths are attributed to men.
Men can do many things to protect their skin from harmful UV exposure from the sun:
- Wear long-sleeved shirts, pants, a wide-brimmed hat, sunglasses and use a sunscreen of at least SPF 15 when outdoors
- If wearing a baseball cap or short-sleeved shirt, put sunscreen on ears, neck, and arms
- Stay in the shade as much as possible between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. which is when UV light is the highest
- Avoid indoor tanning
Depression and suicide
The National Institute of Mental Health estimates that at least 6 million men suffer from depressive disorders including suicidal thoughts.
A few methods to combat depression include:
- Getting regular exercise
- Journaling or writing down their thoughts
- Communicating with friends and family
- Seeking professional help with a therapist trained to treat depression
Problem drinking or alcoholism
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states men face higher rates of alcohol-related deaths and hospitalizations than women. They also binge drink at twice the rate of women.
Diabetes
Diabetes is now considered the third leading cause of death in the U.S. Men need to learn the signs of diabetes – increased thirst, hunger, and urination, excessive tiredness, erectile dysfunction, blurry vision, slow healing of wounds, and numbness or tingling sensations in the extremities, can indicate he has the disease.
