June is Men’s Health Month, and this timely blog post is designed to provide information on the leading causes of men’s mortality and to serve as a reminder for men to be proactive about their health. It also contains useful information for all genders. Gender gaps exist in many areas of society, and life expectancy is no exception. Interestingly, this gap currently favors women, who outlive men by an average of 5.8 years. In 2023, the average life expectancy in the United States was 75.1 years for men and 81.8 yearsfor women. Several factors contribute to this disparity, including differences in behavior, risk of injury, and health-related choices. The National Center for Health Statistics reported the top two of the leading causes of death in men are heart disease and cancer.
Research demonstrates a large contributing factor in men’s shorter life span is they are less likely than women to seek regular medical care. In 19 years as a medical provider, I’ve seen many men in their 30s and older who hadn’t been to a doctor since childhood. Often, these men only visit a healthcare provider at the urging of a spouse or family member. Studies consistently show that men are less likely than women to get preventative screenings, yearly wellness physicals, or routine bloodwork. These medical procedures are imperative to prevent or detect disease in its early phases when these chronic illnesses are more responsive to treatment.
Heart Disease
Heart disease is a leading cause of death in both men and women. Generally, the term heart disease describes conditions that affect health and function of the heart. Such disease processes include coronary artery disease (a buildup of cholesterol in the arteries), heart attack, stroke, hypertension, arrhythmia and congestive heart failure (decreased ability of the heart muscle to contract efficiently due to increased size of the muscles in the heart).
Routine medical care is important to prevent, detect and treat risk factors for heart disease-related death. Undetected and/or untreated hypertension is known as the silent killer for a reason. Without regular blood pressure monitoring, people may not know they have hypertension, then they develop complications such as stroke or congestive heart failure. Coronary artery disease is very preventable. There are many dietary, lifestyle and natural medicine approaches that lower cholesterol; however, I will also prescribe pharmaceutical medications for cholesterol management when needed. For people who have a strong family history of heart attack or stroke, additional bloodwork screenings with cardiovascular markers, advanced cholesterol testing, and coronary calcium score imaging are helpful to guide treatment and lower risks.
Prostate Cancer
Prostate cancer is the leading type of cancer in men. Prostate cancer can occur at any age, but it is extremely rare in men younger than 40. One in eight men will develop prostate cancer in their lifetime. Risk rises considerably after age 50 and is highest in those age 65 and older. While prostate cancer affects all ethnicities, Black men have higher rates at younger ages. Risk factors for prostate cancer include smoking, obesity, chemical exposures, and family history of male relatives with prostate or female relatives with breast cancers. Prostate cancer screening should start at age 40 and is performed yearly in those with the highest risk.
Colon Cancer
Colon cancer rates have increased in younger people, and this has led to a change in screening guidelines. Regular colorectal cancer screening is one of the best ways to prevent colorectal cancer. Most colorectal cancers start with a polyp – a small growth in the colon or rectum. Screening can help to find colorectal cancer early, when it’s smaller, hasn’t spread, and is often easier to treat. Certain screening tests can also help prevent colorectal cancer by finding and removing polyps before they turn into cancer.
The American Cancer Society colorectal screening guidelines are as follows:
- Everyone should start regular screening at age 45, this previously started at age 50. People who have a first-degree family member with a diagnosis of colon cancer (mother, father, or siblings) should start screening at age 40 or 10 years younger than the family member was diagnosed, whichever comes first.
- People who are in good health and with a life expectancy of more than 10 years should continue regular colorectal cancer screening through age 75.
- For people ages 76 to 85, the decision to be screened should be based on a person’s preferences, life expectancy, health, and screening history.
- People over age 85 should no longer get colorectal cancer screening.
There are many options for colon screening:
- Fecal immunochemical test (FIT) looks for microscopic blood in the stool, not obviously visible, for which a cancerous polyp could be the source.
- Cologuard testing looks for hidden blood and DNA markers that are associated with colon cancer risk. This type of testing is more comprehensive than FIT.
- Colonoscopy is the superior testing option, as it allows for polyp detection and removal.
Take charge of your health, and don’t be someone who hasn’t seen a doctor since childhood! Don’t wait until you’re experiencing symptoms to see a physician. Schedule regular checkups, which can help detect potential health issues early, when they are often easier to treat. Talk genuinely to your doctor about your concerns and experiences. Be open and honest with your doctor about any health concerns you may have, no matter how small they may seem – your life may depend on it.