The state of Men’s Health has been called the “silent crisis” by many experts. Overall, men live unhealthier and shorter lives than women.
A woman the same age as her husband will most likely live longer than he will. But the true crisis lies in the popular acceptance of these statistics.
To help raise awareness, here are 7 important statistics that doctors can share with male patients (and their partners) so that the crisis is no longer silent.
1) Drug Addiction and overdose is common in men aged 25-64. Drug overdose deaths are up 117 percent since 1999, and prescription drugs are usually to blame, the CDC says. Opioids and benzos—typically used to treat pain, anxiety, and insomnia—are by far the most common causes of accidental drug overdose.
2) Most Men do less than 25 minutes of physical activity each day. according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). This is probably worsened by the fact that the average man watches more than 3 hours of TV each day.
3) Average men spend less than 20 minutes on food preparation. This means that men are eating less nutritious meals and consuming his calorie fast foods more often. On top of this, 25% of men skip breakfast, according to data from the market research firm NPD Group.
4) About a quarter of all men have zero close friends to confide in. This finding from a Duke University study confirms decades of sociological research show that each generation of American men is more friendless than the last, especially as middle age sets in. Social isolation is roughly twice as bad for your life expectancy as obesity.
5) 1 in 2 men are diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime compared to 1 in 3 women. (Source: American Cancer Society) Heart disease is the most common cause of death, followed by prostate cancer (Source: Roper St Francis).
6) Poor mental health affects men more than women. Three quarters of suicides are by men. The World Health Organization estimates that 510,000 men die from suicide globally each year. That’s one every minute.
7) Women are 100% more likely than men to visit a doctor for annual exams. Only one man will visit the doctor for every two women. Encouraging men to have yearly physical exams is an essential step to increasing both awareness and prevention of the diseases listed above.
As doctors partner with their male patients and healthcare groups, such as Movember, the hope is that awareness will lead to prevention and cure.
Want to Read More?
Men Need to Know More about their Health by The Observer
Three Key Research Findings in Mens Health in 2015 by PRNewswire
