There are certain health concerns that are particularly important for you to be aware of as a man. At Men’s Vitality Center in Tucson, we strive to provide you with all of the answers to men’s health questions you have. In this blog, we will go over the top health threats to men so you can be informed about concerns for your health.
Cardiovascular disease
Cardiovascular disease, or heart disease, is the worldwide leading cause of death among both men and women. One in five people die of heart disease. While this is an important issue for both genders, in men, it seems that cardiovascular disease affects them earlier. The average age of death of men with heart disease is under 65, as opposed to women, which is 71. Even as teenagers, men have less healthy arteries than women. Women have higher levels of good cholesterol, which may be why it is harder for men to avoid heart disease. Be sure to get your cholesterol checked, exercise often, and eat healthily to reduce your risk of heart disease.
Lung cancer
Lung cancer is the number one cancer killer in men. It is a deadly disease that is often advanced too far for recovery by the time it is discovered. That is largely because there isn’t an effective test for screening for it, so there is little hope for early intervention at this point. The most important way you can avoid lung cancer is by quitting smoking. If you are a smoker and need help quitting, contact us, and we will help you develop a quit-smoking plan.
Prostate cancer
Prostate cancer is the second most common cancer in men. Almost 200,000 men develop prostate cancer per year. While prostate cancer is a slow-growing cancer and can usually be caught early, there are more aggressive forms of prostate cancer, and tests cannot determine which type you have. The most important thing you can do to lower your risk of prostate cancer is to regularly get prostate screenings from your doctor. Talk to your doctor about the risks and what lifestyle changes you can make to avoid prostate cancer.
Depression and suicide
Depression is a common mental health condition in the United States, and it often goes undiagnosed in men. This may be because men are taught to hide their feelings, and that they should not show any emotional vulnerability. Symptoms of depression also often manifest differently in men and women. For example, men are more likely to have angry outbursts than women. Depression can have a huge negative impact on your overall health, and it is more common in men to result in suicide. Fortunately, therapy and antidepressants or a combination of both have proven to be effective treatments for depression. If you are concerned about your mental health, discuss with your doctor as soon as possible.
In our next blog, we will go over lifestyle choices you can make that will reduce your risk of these top health threats. In the meantime, when you are concerned about your health, contact Men’s Vitality Center to schedule an appointment.