Men die at a higher rate than women from nine of the 10 top causes of death in the United States. That’s according to the Men’s Health Network (http://www.menshealthnetwork.org/), an organization devoted to greater health awareness and disease prevention for men and boys. That organization has declared June as Men’s Health Month. People are encouraged to wear blue on the Friday before father’s day to raise awareness for men’s health issues. Wear Blue Friday is on June 15 this year.
Statistics from the Utah Department of Health indicate that Utah tends to be healthier than the rest of the nation (and Davis County is generally healthier than the rest of the state). Still, it remains true that men in Utah do not live as long as women.
Top Causes of Death in United States
Source: Men’s Health Network
1. Heart Disease
2. Cancer
3. Injuries
4. Stroke
5. Suicide
6. HIV/AIDS
Top Causes of Death in Utah
Source: Utah Department of Health
1. Heart Disease
2. Cancer
3. Injuries
4. Stroke
5. Lung Diseases
6. Diabetes
Men die at a higher rate than women in the top three categories, and the top four account for well over half of all deaths. Accidental injury rates have risen greatly in recent years, moving ahead of strokes on the list. The Men’s Health Network says men are twice as likely as women nationwide to die of accidental injuries.
Men’s Health Facts
Source: Men’s Health Network
• Men live about five years less than women
• One of two men will develop cancer
• About 30,000 men die in the U.S. yearly from prostate cancer
• Men are more likely to be uninsured than women
• Men have a higher death rate for most of the leading causes of death
The Men’s Health Network also says men see their family doctor for yearly examinations half as often as women, and that life expectancy for women is now almost five years greater than for men. Seeing a family physician regularly is paramount to men’s health. Your family doctor can give you a general checkup that can reveal problem areas to be addressed. One common area is prostate health. Prostate cancer is the leading type of cancer in men (https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/dcpc/data/men.htm). The American Cancer Society now recommends men seek out a family physician for a yearly prostate exam beginning at the age of 40. Prostate health is crucial for men.
Family medicine is the first line of defense for men’s health. A family medicine practitioner can do more than offer prostate exams, of course. An overall checkup can also spot potential signs of heart disease, stroke and diabetes. General health advice is the domain of a good family practice. While men should take charge of their own health, including a family practice doctor is essential.
Aside from frequent doctor’s visit, there are many ways to improve men’s health. Exercise offers many benefits and many activities are available for men of all ages, such as walking, golfing, bowling, bicycling, hiking and many others.
If you have a man in your life, consider gifting him a doctor’s visit for father’s day. And don’t forget to wear blue on Friday, June 15th.
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