Advice for men to avoid the top five killers
It’s widely known that men are less likely than women to visit doctors regularly, and they seem to pay for it in the end.
On average, men die five years earlier than women. Although the gap has narrowed, life expectancy for men is 75.2 years, compared to 80.4 years for women, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Experts say that more attention to preventative health measures, and the warning signs of significant health problems, might help men live longer.
June is National Men’s Health Month, a fitting time to learn more about the top killers of men: heart disease, cancer, accidents, stroke and lung diseases.
1. Heart disease (340,933)
Take warning signs to heart
Heart disease is now treated more aggressively to try to change it from being the top killer of men, with 341,000 deaths in the U.S. annually.
Now patients that are considered at-risk are treated as if they already have heart disease, in order to prevent heart attacks from occurring.
Backus Hospital cardiologist John Foley, MD, says heart functions may be normal, but if patients have a strong likelihood of developing problems, with warning signs, such as hypertension and diabetes, treatment and monitoring should begin as soon as possible.
“One thing that gets men into trouble is denial. If they have chest pain, shortness or breath or unusual sweatiness, they need to take it seriously and see a doctor,” Dr. Foley says. “Don’t delay.”