May 27, 2003
Men’s Health Week Marks 10th Year
This year, as in every year since 1994, the week leading up to Father’s Day has been designated National Men’s Health Week. When the U.S. Congress enacted Public Law 103-264, this country became the first in the world to recognize the need to promote men’s health. According to the Men’s Health Network, not only do women outlive men by an average of 6-7 years, but men also “suffer higher mortality rates for the top 10 causes of death.” Public Law 103-264 points out that “heightening the awareness of preventable health problems and increasing early detection and treatment of disease would significantly improve our Nation’s health, as well as save limited health care dollars.”
A number of factors contribute to the greater mortality rate for men from a number of diseases. One factor is the relative lack of accessible health care information for men. While several programs exist to warn women of their risk for certain conditions and clinics have been established that specialize in women’s health problems, male-specific disorders tend not to be addressed by clinics and wide-ranging informational campaigns. For example, there are no national educational programs that teach men how to conduct self-examinations for testicular cancer similar to those that exist to instruct women in breast self-examination to enhance early detection of breast cancer.
Another situation that exacerbates the higher death rates for men from certain diseases is the fact that men do not seek out information and assistance as readily as women do. Many continue to embrace the “macho” stereotype of the tough guy who never goes to doctors. Encouraging the adoption of this male image often results in unnecessary and untimely deaths that could have been delayed or prevented if men had been urged to take a more active role in maintaining their health. By increasing men’s awareness of prostate cancer, testicular cancer, colon cancer, and infertility problems, many more cases could be detected and treated more successfully.
Statistics show that more needs to be done in the area of men’s health. The 10 leading causes of death, in order of mortality, are: heart disease, cancer, stroke, accidents, chronic lower respiratory diseases, diabetes, influenza and pneumonia, suicide, kidney disease, and chronic liver disease and cirrhosis. With regard to the leading cause of death, heart disease, the National Institutes of Health have found that more than ¾ of the cases or heart disease are related to diet and stress. Yet, men typically show less interest in improving their diet and exercise regimen and reducing their stress levels than are women, even though men are almost twice as likely to die of heart disease than women are. Outreach programs designed to increase men’s interest in their health and their willingness to make necessary lifestyle changes should prove to be fruitful.
Cancer is the second leading cause of death among men. Research shows that 1 in 11 men will develop prostrate cancer; about 1/3 of those will die from the disease. Testicular cancer is the most common cancer among males aged 15-34; while the survival rate is high (87%) when detected early, many men in their 20’s and 30’s stop having regular medical examinations, and most do not self-examine. About 400 men will die of testicular cancer this year. Further, colorectal cancer is also prevalent among men. Over 80,00 men contracted this type of cancer in 1993, and nearly 1/3 of the cases died. Additionally, skin cancer, which can be disfiguring and even lead to death, is of particular concern to men whose occupations keep them exposed to the sun’s ultra-violet rays. Also, many recreational activities popular among men, such as golfing and fishing, increase the risk of skin cancer.
The third leading cause of death for men is stroke. Once again, men are more likely to die from stroke than women are. High blood pressure greatly increases the risk of both stroke and heart attack; statistics show men under the age of 55 are considerably more likely to suffer from high blood pressure than are women.
Not only do men experience higher mortality rates for a number of disorders, they also are at an increased risk of death and injury from many types of accidents. Males comprised 70-80% of all deaths due to homicide, accidents, and suicide from 1950-1990. Men are the victims of 90% of all fatal workplace accidents. They are 3 times more likely to suffer from traumatic brain injury than are women, due to the nature of their jobs, their participation in sports, and because they are often the victims of violence.
According to recent studies, men have been under-diagnosed for depression and other mental illnesses. Further, traditionally more men suffer from destructive addictions, such as alcoholism, drug abuse, and gambling, than women. Other areas of men’s health that need attention are the sexual dysfunction (impotence), sexually transmitted diseases, and peptic ulcers, to name a few.
So what can men do to improve the quality and quantity of their lives? Basically, the same practices that are encouraged for women are important for men. The main principles are to eat a nutritious diet, maintain a healthy weight, get regular exercise, get plenty of rest, do not smoke, drink to excess, or take unnecessary drugs, and get health screenings and have regular medical examinations. Some routine medical tests men should have include digital rectal exams, protein-specific antigen tests (for prostate cancer), colorectal screenings, such as the fecal occult blood test or colonoscopy, skin cancer screenings, blood pressure and cholesterol screenings. Men should also consult their physicians about bone density tests, vascular tests, eye exams, and regular dental check ups. And they should be sure to get appropriate vaccinations, such as pneumonia shots and annual flu shots.
Men must learn to become active partners in maintaining their health. They must learn to recognize symptoms of problems before they become too big to handle. Most diseases respond best to treatment if diagnosed early. And women can help. Since women are 150 times more likely to consult a doctor than men are, they can encourage the men in their lives to do the same. They can also learn about the dangers of disorders that affect men, and what the symptoms are.
Education is the key to men’s health. Both the public and health care providers must recognize the importance of health education and preventive measures in order to reduce both morbidity and mortality and enhance the quality of life for men. Men need to be educated about the value of preventative health measures, they need to be encouraged to consult their physicians regularly, and to become active partners in maintaining their own health.
There are several web sites to obtain further information about men’s health. Two Internet sites are http://www.menshealthnetwork.org/ and info@menshealthweek.org. Additional information is available at the Central Connecticut Health District at 721-2822.