Men’s Health

Top Health Threats to Men

Accidents and Injuries – Men are more likely than women to be injured in accidents. This is due in part to the fact that men are more likely to engage in risky activities. Men are more likely to be injured in auto and motorcycle accidents, in addition to home and social incidents.

Cancer – Types of cancer that commonly affect men are testicular cancer, prostate cancer, colorectal cancer, and lung cancer.  During your annual check-up, your primary care doctor will tell you when it’s time to get screened and will check for signs of any of these cancers.

Colorectal cancer and testicular cancer can often be beat when detected and treated in the early stages, and the earlier cancer is caught, the better the chance of it being treated.

Chronic Lower Respiratory Disease – includes 4 major diseases: COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), emphysema, chronic bronchitis, and asthma.  These conditions interfere with your ability to breathe.  Risk factors for chronic respiratory disease include allergens, occupational risks, and air pollution, but smoking remains the leading cause of respiratory disease. If you’re thinking about quitting smoking, talk to your doctor about help.

Depression and Suicide – Depression can often go undiagnosed in men because they are reluctant to seek help, or because symptoms don’t always present the way you may expect. Men sometimes experience depression as irritability or anger rather than sadness.  If you think you are suffering from depression, talk to your healthcare provider.  Even the most severe cases of depression are treatable. Remember healthcare professionals are trained to help, not judge.

Diabetes – is a condition in which the body does not produce or use insulin correctly.  All men should begin regular screening for diabetes around the age of 45, but screening may begin earlier in men who have a family history of diabetes, are overweight, take certain medications, or have other risk factors for diabetes such as high blood pressure. While you can’t change all your risk factors, you can make healthy life choices to help prevent diabetes.

Heart Disease – According to the CDC, cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death in men in the United States.  Risk factors for heart disease and stroke depend on your age, gender, race, and family medical history.  Your family doctor can calculate your risk based on these factors along with your cholesterol level, blood pressure, and smoking habits.

Prostate Conditions – Millions of men experience prostate conditions that affect their daily lives including enlarged prostate, cancer, and prostatitis.  Prostate cancer is the most common cancer found in American men and is the second leading cause of cancer-related death in men.  Tests like PSA screenings and digital rectal exams can increase your chance of survival by finding prostate cancer early.

Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) – If you have more than one partner or have had casual sex with people you don’t know, you should be screened more often for STIs and may benefit from getting tested for HIV more often (for example, every 3 to 6 months). Gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (MSM) are at even higher risk of contracting STIs than heterosexual men. STIs can have serious health consequences, so it is important for all men to practice safe sex and get tested for STIs regularly.

Substance Abuse – Men are more likely than women to abuse alcohol and drugs which can lead to several health problems, including liver damage, heart disease, and cancer. Alcohol consumption presents an increased risk for cancer of the throat, mouth, esophagus, liver, and colon.  Alcohol interferes with testicular function and hormone production which can result in impotence and infertility.  Because alcohol and drug use are linked to risky behavior, it also factors into another risk for men – accidental injury.

Men need to understand, and pay attention to, their health concerns and seek help when needed because many of these health threats are often preventable.