This post goes out to all the men in the world, and all the people who love and support them.
June is Men’s Health Month. A time dedicated to focus on raising awareness to boys’ and men's health issues, and, the importance of good health.
Did you know there is a big gap, when it comes to gender and health?
Regardless of the where they live, their race, or ethnicity, men live less than women, on average, by 5 years in the US, and 6 years around the globe.
They experience more illness and more death from Coronary Heart Disease, Hypertension, Diabetes and Cancer.
When it comes to mental health, the top 5 concerns effecting men, are depression, anxiety, psychosis and schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and eating disorders. Yet, the National Institute of Mental Health says, few men will actually receive formal treatment.
Men are at more risk for substance abuse.
They are almost 4x more likely to die from suicide, than women.
With all of that being said, most of the above can be prevented, simply by the choices that we make. Yet, you may be wondering, why are we are seeing such a discrepancy?
Research has found, aside from occupational and health hazards at work, men are more likely to:
Take more risks
Put off seeing their doctor.
Downplay their symptoms.
Abstain from getting routine checks or vaccinations.
Forego health-promoting behaviors, due to societal or cultural norms.
Lack social support.
So, men, if you want to take control of your health, here are some simple things you can do:
See your doctor on a regular basis
Get recommended health screens and checks
Practice a healthy lifestyle: quit smoking (if you are a smoker), modify alcohol intake, incorporate physical activity, healthy eating & stress management techniques.
Speak up when something feels "off".
Talk about your mental health.
Seek support.
For more information on the gender gap, when it comes to life expectancy and health outcomes, please see below:
Baker P, Dworken SL, Tong S, Banks I, Shand T, Yamey G. The men’s health gap: men must be included in the global health equity agenda. Bulletin of the World Health Organization. 2014;92:618-620. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.2471/BLT.13.132795
Moon DG. Changing Men's Health: Leading the Future.World J Mens Health. 2018;36(1):1-3. doi:10.5534/wjmh.18101
If you need help in making lifestyle changes, to support your health, please know, I'm here for you.