Mens Health

Interest in Mens Health has grown markedly over the past few decades. Whether it be heart health, prostate health, mental health, bipolar disorder, depression, hypertension and other stress related diseases, even dental health, increased activity specifically relating to mens health promotion has risen. While men tend to be more interested in their own health and wellbeing these days there are still barriers to, promoting mens health.

Mens Health Research and Trends

Research shows that:

•    men do not see physicians for a physical exam nearly as often as women

•    men are dying of the top causes of death (heart disease and cancer) at higher rates than women

•    men are more likely to be uninsured than women

•    approximately 30,000 men in the US die each year from prostate cancer

Leading Diseases and Causes of Death in Men

Heart disease and cancer lead the way as the top causes of death in men. These diseases have been named lifestyle diseases, so when considering mens health once must consider the male lifestyle and attitude. What is it about a mans lifestyle and attitude that gives him earlier mortality than a woman?

Since both men and woman face many stresses in life we cannot say a mans life is more stressful than a woman’s. But we can say men tend to deal with stress differently to women. That is to say men tend not to deal with stress, choosing to swallow it and take it on the chin like a man, bury themselves in work. The one thing that women do quicker and more often than men is seek help.

A woman is more likely to go see a physician or health care professional when early symptoms of illness appear. If she doesn’t do this she tends to talk about it to all her friends or “mum” to get advice. Women are also more likely to take supplements and finish the jar of their medicines and health products. This is something men do not do naturally. While many men are changing their ways to be able to live long and healthy lives there is still a gap between mortality rates between men and woman that often comes down to attitudes towards health.

Mens Health Network and Men's Health Week

Men’s Health Network created a program of education to save men’s lives by reducing premature mortality of men and boys. Men's Health Week is celebrated each year as the week leading up to and including Father's Day. The purpose of Men's Health Week is to heighten the awareness of preventable health problems and encourage early detection and treatment of disease among men and boys. If you are a man reading this or a woman who cares about the premature mortality of men, then we encourage you to get familiar with the issues of mens health.