By Jacquie Eubanks BSN, RN
Healthy living guidelines for lifestyles, exercising, and nutrition abound. Data suggests the majority of men are aware that changes to their diet or lifestyles could benefit their overall health, yet fewer than 50% actually follow through on those changes. Life expectancy statistics are slowly increasing relative to changes in American lifestyles, as more emphasis is placed on healthier diets, regular exercise and quitting smoking. However, men still lag when it comes to health and longevity, as women are outliving men by approximately 5.1 years.
This gender gap is not unique to the U.S. Demographic studies show that in industrial societies and in developing countries as well, men have higher mortality rates from most all non-sex-specific health problems. Men fall ill at a younger age, are more likely to have chronic illness, are less likely to visit doctors for routine checkups, and only seek medical help when their illness is in its later stages.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the top health threats for men are heart disease, cancer, stroke, chronic lower respiratory disease, and diabetes. The reasons for the poor state of men's health are a complex mix of biological, social and behavioral factors. Some of these include:
- Diet - Women are twice as likely as men to eat the recommended amount of fruits and veggies each day.
- Lack of exercise - Many men have sedentary desk jobs and don't come close to getting enough exercise to maintain good health.
- Work stress - There is no question that work stress can increase the risk of heart attack, hypertension, and stroke.
- Alcohol abuse - Although there are certainly women who abuse alcohol, men are more than twice as likely to be binge drinkers and to become alcohol dependent.
- Smoking - More men than woman engage in smoking, the riskiest of all behaviors.
- Risky behavior - Whatever the reason, men engage in riskier behaviors and are more likely to pay the price for that in terms of injury, trauma and death.
- Reluctance to receive routine medical care - Men are more likely to take better care of their cars than their health. Many men don't seek medical attention until they can no longer ignore their health.
- Lack of awareness regarding health issues - Men fail to take the simple steps that can protect against chronic disease such as heart disease and cancer.
- Stigmas surrounding both physical and mental health - Men are more than twice as likely to lack social support. Women have larger and more reliable social networks. It is thought that strong relationships and good communication are two of the reasons why women live longer than men.
