This week is International Men’s Health Week, a time to bring awareness to health issues affecting men disproportionately and focuses on getting them to become aware of problems they may have or could develop, and gain the courage to do something about it.
History of Men's Health Week
Men’s Health Month is celebrated each year in June, while Men’s Health Week is celebrated on the week ending on Father’s Day in June each year. This awareness period was created by Senator Bob Dole and Congressman Bill Richardson with support from Men’s Health Network. It was passed by the US Congress and signed into law by President Clinton in 1994 as Men’s Health Week, which was later on expanded to include the whole month of June in the late 1990’s.
The Men’s Health Network (MHN) organized a meeting at the first Worl Congress on Men’s Health (2001 in Vienna) to discuss synchronizing a universal men’s health awareness period linked to the official recognition of Men’s Health Week by the US government. In the USA, the governors of the states and territories in the USA have adopted the week, as have Native American leaders and the mayors of many of the major cities. Those proclamations are displayed on the Men’s Health Week website. Typical Men’s Health Week events include educational lectures by sports figures, free health screenings, health fairs, and seminars.
Men’s Health Week is still celebrated as “a special awareness period recognized by Congress and the President” and is also celebrated worldwide. This annual awareness period is designed to heighten the awareness of preventable health problems – both mental and physical – and encourage early detection and treatment of diseases among men and boys.
Medical professionals and community activists use this opportunity to encourage regular self-exams and screening.
Goal of Men's Health Week
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.
This week gives health care providers, public policymakers, the media, and individuals an opportunity to encourage men and boys to seek regular medical advice and early treatment for disease and injury. The response has been overwhelming with hundreds of awareness activities in the USA and around the globe.
Men's Health Facts
According to Dr. David Gremillion of the Men’s Health Network:
“There is a silent health crisis in America… it’s a fact that, on average, American men live sicker and die younger than American women.”
Men die at higher rates than women from 9 out of the top 10 causes of death and are the victims of over 92% of workplace deaths. In 1920, women lived, on average, one year longer than men. Now, men, on average, die almost 5 years earlier than women.
Depression in men is undiagnosed, contributing to the fact that men are 4 times as likely to commit suicide than women.
- Among ages 15 to 19, boys were 3.1 times as likely as girls to commit suicide;
- Among ages 20 to 24, males were 4.6 times as likely to commit suicide as females; and
- The suicide rate for persons aged 65 and above is 31.5% for men, and 5% for women.
Who is the “weaker” sex?
- 115 males are conceived for every 100 females
- The male fetus is at greater risk of miscarriage and stillbirth
- 25% more newborn males die than females
- 3 out of 5 SIDS victims are boys
- Men suffer hearing loss at twice the rate of women
- Testosterone is linked to elevations of LDL, the bad cholesterol, and declines in HDL, the good cholesterol
- Men have fewer infection-fighting T-cells and are thought to have weaker immune systems than women
- By the age of 100, women outnumber men eight-to-one.
The Silent Health Crisis
Life expectancy gender gap
In 1920, the life expectancy gender gap was only 1 year. By 2017, men were dying approximately 5 years sooner than women.
Leading causes of death in 2016
Men have a higher death rate for most of the leading causes of death.
Excess mortality by age group
Men are at a greater risk of death in every group. Risk-taking and suicide account for much of the disparity in the 15-24 age gap.
Men as victims of homicide
The chance of being a homicide victim places African-American men at unusually high risk.
Why men are at high risk
- A higher percentage of men have no healthcare coverage
- Men make ½ as many physician visits for prevention
- Men are employed in the most dangerous occupations, such as mining, firefighting, construction, and fishing.
- Society discourages healthy behaviors in men and boys.
- Research on male-specific diseases is underfunded
- Men may have less healthy lifestyles including risk-taking at younger ages.
Effect on the aging population
- More males than females are born (105 to 100), but from age 35, women outnumber men.
- Of the 9 million older persons living alone, 80% are women.
- More than ½ of the elderly widows living in poverty were not poor before the death of their husbands
- At age 100, women outnumber men 8 to 1
2022: It's time for your MOT
Men are notorious for avoiding the doctor and ignoring unusual symptoms. This may help explain why women tend to live longer. Don’t let complacency take a toll on your health.
Schedule yearly checkups with your doctor and keep these appointments. Your doctor can help monitor your weight, blood pressure, and the level of cholesterol in your blood. Excess weight, high blood pressure, and high blood cholesterol are risk factors for cardiovascular disease. Your doctor can recommend lifestyle changes, medications, or other treatments to help get your weight, blood pressure, and blood cholesterol under control.
The male MOT is a quick and easy process that usually requires between 30 minutes to an hour of your time. It is a holistic process and comprises a comprehensive set of checks to establish a baseline of the current state of the health and vitality of your body. This is specifically tailored to each individual.
Get your prostate checked
After skin cancer, prostate cancer is the most common cancer diagnosis among American men, according to the American Cancer Society. If you have trouble urinating, develop pain when you urinate, or notice blood in your urine, it may be a sign of prostate problems. Make an appointment with your doctor. They may encourage you to get blood tests or undergo a prostate exam to check for prostate cancer or other conditions.
Check for colorectal cancer
Colon cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in the United States, reports the National Cancer Institute. It’s important to begin screening for colorectal cancer starting around age 50. Your doctor can use a colonoscopy to check for cancerous growths in your colon. They will also check for polyps, a type of noncancerous growth. Certain types of polyps can develop into cancer at a later time. Ask your doctor how often you should have a colonoscopy conducted.
Eat Natural Foods
Packaged and processed foods are often full of sugar, salt, unhealthy fats, artificial additives, and calories. Limit the fake stuff and eat a wide variety of:
- fresh fruits and vegetables
- whole-grain products, such as brown rice and whole-grain breads
- fiber-rich foods, such as beans and leafy greens
- lean cuts of meat and poultry, such as skinless chicken breast and lean ground beef
- fish, such as salmon
- When buying groceries, shop the perimeter of the store. This is where you’ll typically find the freshest foods. Spend less time inside the aisles, where processed foods tend to be located.
Get moving
Heart disease is the leading cause of death among American men. Regular exercise is one of the best ways to prevent heart disease and keep your ticker strong. It can also help you improve and maintain your overall physical and mental well health.
Try to get at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise, or 75 minutes of vigorous aerobic exercise, every week. For example, schedule five 30-minute long sessions of aerobic exercise in your weekly calendar. Aerobic exercise includes activities such as walking, jogging, swimming, basketball, tennis, and other sports.
It’s also important to make time for at least two sessions of muscle-strengthening activities per week. For example, weight lifting, rock climbing, and yoga can help you develop stronger muscles.
Maintain a healthy waist
If your waist measures more than 40 inches around, it could be cause for concern. According to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, it raises your risk of obesity-related diseases. For example, men with large waists are at higher risk of type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and stroke.
For most men, the best way to shed excess belly fat is to cut calories from your diet and exercise more. Ask your doctor to help you develop a weight-loss plan that’s safe and effective for you.
Get your vitamins
Most people can get the vitamins and minerals needed for optimum health by eating a well-balanced diet. It’s important to eat a wide variety of vitamin- and mineral-rich foods, such as fresh fruits, veggies, and whole grains. Many of those foods also provide heart-healthy fiber and natural antioxidant compounds that can help lower your risk of certain diseases.
Some people may also benefit from taking a daily multivitamin or other supplements. For example, your doctor may encourage you to supplement your diet with fish oil capsules containing omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin D3. Ask your doctor about the potential benefits and risks of adding a multivitamin or other supplements to your daily routine.
Break unhealthy habits
Smoking is one of the worst things you can do for your health. Secondhand smoke is also very dangerous. Nearly 7,300 nonsmoking Americans die from lung cancer caused by secondhand smoke every year, reports the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Smoking and secondhand smoke exposure can also cause other health conditions, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), emphysema, and heart disease. They also raise your risk of developing many types of cancer.
Other health-damaging behaviors include excessive alcohol consumption and recreational or habitual drug use. If you consume alcohol, do so in moderation. For example, men should consume no more than two drinks per day, or the equivalent of 24 ounces of beer, 10 ounces of wine, or 3 ounces of spirits.
If you use recreational drugs, it’s important to stop. They’re linked to many health conditions. For example, cocaine use can cause heart attacks and strokes. Injected drugs of all sorts can lead to serious infections and skin breakdown at injection sites.
Some men also use anabolic steroids to increase muscle mass. This can lead to serious health consequences. Possible outcomes include sterility, heart disease, skin disease, and behavioral problems.
If you smoke, drink too much, or use illicit drugs, your doctor can help you develop a plan to quit. They may recommend medication, therapy, or other treatments or strategies.
Protect your skin
Melanoma is a type of skin cancer. It’s one of the deadliest cancers. According to the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD), men over the age of 50 are at a heightened risk of developing it. Your risk is also higher if you’re Caucasian.
To lower your risk of developing melanoma, take steps to protect yourself from harmful ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun. When you’re outside:
- spend time in the shade
- cover your body with protective clothing
- cover exposed skin in sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 30 or higher
- reapply sunscreen every two hours or more frequently if you’re sweating or swimming
- It’s also important to avoid tanning beds, which are harmful sources of UV radiation.
Conduct a monthly skin check to look for new or unusual moles, changes to existing moles, or other changes to the color or texture of your skin. Use a mirror to help check places you can’t usually see. Visit a dermatologist about once a year for a full-body skin check.
Especially in America, many men are encouraged to be macho and invincible, and oftentimes that means they ignore symptoms and put off doctor appointments because "they're fine." Men's Health Week is all about peer pressure in the other direction! It can be hard to find time to do the things we love to do, but Men's Health Week is a good reminder that health is also about happiness. Take a hike, go on a walk, play a round of golf, read a book, or take a nap. Do what relaxes you! It's all healthy.
Sources:
https://www.menshealthnetwork.org/library/menshealthfacts.pdf
https://www.menshealthnetwork.org/library/silenthealthcrisis.pdf
https://www.healthline.com/health/mens-health#doctor
https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/educational/lose_wt/risk.htm