Did you know that, on average, men are less healthy and have a shorter life expectancy than women? It's true. Men die younger than women from 9 of the top 10 causes of death. As a result, the average woman outlives the average man by almost five years.
Part of the reason for this widening health gap is that we don't take care of ourselves as well as women do. As men, we are more likely to engage in unhealthy behavior and less likely than women to adopt preventive health measures. We are also less likely to have health insurance, more likely to work in dangerous occupations, and often put off going to the doctor even when we really should go. As a result, men die younger—and in greater numbers—of heart disease, stroke, cancer, diabetes, and many other diseases. In 1920, women outlived men by an average of just one year. A century later, that difference has more than quadrupled. While these figures don't sound promising, the good news is it doesn't have to be this way. More than 50% of premature deaths among men are preventable.
Still, you can't prevent a problem if you don't know it exists.
To help raise awareness of preventable health issues for men, the month of June is recognized across the country as Men's Health Month. Its purpose is to heighten awareness of preventable health problems and encourage detection and treatment of disease among men and boys. Men's Health Month also gives health care providers an opportunity to encourage men and boys to seek regular medical advice and early treatment for disease and injury. In conjunction with Men's Health Month, Summit will be sharing information every week about several of the main health issues that men face. We will also identify and explain factors that increase risk, show you how to recognize symptoms and give you some practical, easy-to-implement prevention and treatment strategies.
We strongly urge you to check back for new updates throughout June—it could help save your life, or the life of someone you love.