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National Men’s Health Week RCRMC LiveWell Campaign Top 10 Health Concerns of Men Men are catching up to women in life expectancy, according to a 2006 National Center for Health Statistics report. If current trends continue, in 50 years, men and women will live the same length of time. Although overall life expectancy for men is looking good, the male population still have some unique concerns. Research shows: Despite recent declines in heart disease in the general population, the mortality rate for African American men aged 35 to 44 years is more than twice that for Caucasian men. An estimated 1/3 of men with type 2 diabetes (most common form of diabetes) don’t know they have it. Many are unaware of the disease until they develop problems such as impotence, vision loss, or kidney disease. Men commit suicide four times as often as women do, partly because they’re more likely to use deadlier means—such as firearms—when they set out to take their own lives. Taking time to de-stress and look after your mental and physical health is not a luxury, it’s a necessity. A healthier, happier you makes you a better spouse, father and friend. The leading causes of death for males are listed below, but you don’t have to become a statistic if you take good care of your health. All Races, Males Leading Causes of Death for Males Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Percent 1) Heart disease 28.4 2) Cancer 24.1 3) Unintentional injuries 5.8 4) Stroke 5.2 5) Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease 5.1 6) Diabetes 2.9 7) Influenza and pneumonia 2.4 8) Suicide 2.1 9) Kidney disease 1.6 10) Chronic liver disease 1.5 Heart Disease In the United States, heart disease is the number one killer of both women and men. As early as age 45, a man’s risk of heart disease begins to rise significantly. In 2002, 340,933 men died of heart disease in the United States. Researchers have made great progress in understanding heart disease and its risk factors, but they still cannot predict who will get it. Despite recent declines in heart disease in the general population, the mortality rate for African American men aged 35 to 44 years is more than twice that for Caucasian men. You can reduce your risk of heart disease by making healthier lifestyle choices and getting treatment for conditions that can damage your heart, such as high cholesterol, diabetes, and high blood pressure. Other preventive measures you can take: Don’t smoke or use other tobacco products. Eat a varied diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains and low-fat foods. Get at least 30 minutes of exercise most days of the week. Cancer Non-melanoma skin cancer, which rarely spreads to other parts of the body, is the most common cancer for all men and women. The leading cause of cancer death for both men and women is lung cancer. Other cancers that affect men include prostate cancer, colon cancer and testicular cancer. SKIN CANCER: Excessive sun exposure is the single most important risk factor for developing skin cancer. Your best defense against skin cancer is to: LUNG CANCER: According to the American Cancer Society, this year there will be about 174,470 new cases of lung cancer. Lung cancer is a killer and survival rates are poor. Overall, only one in ten patients diagnosed with lung cancer will survive the next five years. Early diagnosis does increase your chances of survival. If lung cancer is found before it spreads to lymph nodes or other organs, the average five-year relative survival rate is about 49 percent. Risk factors for lung cancer include: Smoking and being around others’ smoke Things around us at home or work (such as radon gas) A family history of lung cancer Some preventive measures you can take Minimize contact with the sun during peak hours (10am to 4pm) and through the use of sunscreen and other protective measures. Don’t smoke Avoid second-hand smoke Make sure your home and workplace are radon free COLON CANCER: Cancer of the color or rectum is also called colorectal cancer. In the United States, colorectal cancer is the fourth most common cancer in men, after skin, prostate, and lung cancer. Research has shown that people with certain risk factors are more likely than others to develop colorectal cancer. Some of these risk factors include: Age: Colorectal cancer is more likely to occur as people get older. More than 90 percent of people with this disease are diagnosed after age 50. Colorectal polyps: Polyps are growths on the inner wall of the colon or rectum. They are common in people over age 50. Most polyps are benign, but some can become cancer. Finding and removing polyps may reduce the risk of colorectal cancer. Family History: Close relatives of a person with a history of colorectal cancer are somewhat more likely to develop this disease themselves, especially if the relative had the cancer at a young age. Making the following lifestyle changes can help you prevent colorectal cancer, and lead to a healthier life: Get five servings of vegetables, fruits and whole grains a day Limit red meat and saturated fat Exercise five days a week for at least half an hour Quit Smoking Avoid alcohol Maintain a healthy weight Accidents (Unintentional Injuries) Eighteen people in the United States die every hour due to injuries, according to the first national report on unintentional injuries issued in 2004 by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The report showed that unintentional injuries are the fifth leading cause of death in the United States and responsible for sending one of every three people to the emergency room for treatment. Men are more likely to suffer a fatal injury than women. Men are nearly twice as likely to die as a result of a motor vehicle accident, and the risk is higher among men aged 15.24. To reduce your risk of injury: Don’t drive while sleepy or under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Use your seat belt. Keep your speed down. Use safety gear during sports activities. Stroke A stroke is sometimes called a “brain attack.” It can injure the brain like a heart attack can injure the heart. A person who has a stroke may suffer little or no brain damage and disability, especially if the stroke is treated promptly. But if not treated promptly, a stroke can lead to severe brain damage and disability, or even death. Stroke risks are higher in people who have a family history of stroke and for African Americans. African American men have a higher risk of disability and death from stroke than Caucasian men. This is partly because more African American men have high blood pressure, a major stroke risk factor. You can’t control some stroke risks, such as family history, age and race, but you can control the leading cause—high blood pressure—as well as contributing factors such as smoking and diabetes. Additional preventive measures you can take: Lower your intake of cholesterol (eggs, butter and lard) and saturated fat (cheese, whole milk and regular ground beef). Don’t smoke. If you have diabetes, follow your doctor’s instructions for eating, exercising and taking insulin. Maintain a healthy weight by exercising and eating right. Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a lung disease in which the lungs are damaged, making it hard to breathe. The quality of life for a person suffering from COPD diminishes as the disease progresses. At the onset, there is minimal shortness of breath. People with COPD may eventually require supplemental oxygen and may have to rely on mechanical respiratory assistance. COPD includes: Emphysema—Usually caused by smoking, having emphysema means some of the air sacs in your lungs are damaged, making it hard to breathe. Chronic bronchitis—The cells lining the inside of the bronchi are continuously red and swollen when you have chronic bronchitis. The airways in your lungs have become narrow and partly clogged with mucus that cannot be cleared. Emphysema and chronic bronchitis are strongly associated with lung cancer. If you smoke, you are 12 times as likely to die of COPD as are men who have never smoked. Some preventive measures you can take: Don’t smoke. Avoid secondhand smoke. Minimize exposure to workplace chemicals (lead and organic solvents).