It is true for almost every country in the world that more boys are born each year than girls. However, boys are more likely to die in their first year of life than girls. In fact, it turns out that men are more susceptible to poorer health and increased risk of death compared to women throughout life. So much for the “weaker” sex.
In a report published in the May 2003 American Journal of Public Health , a researcher from the Institute for Social Research at the University of Michigan discusses which subgroups of American men are more vulnerable to poor health and increased risk of death, and what factors may contribute to this susceptibility.
The scientist analyzed national data to determine men’s health trends. In particular, he examined the general health status of men compared with women, high-risk subgroups of men, and what factors influenced men’s health.
The Health Status of Men
High-risk Subgroups of Men
Factors Influencing Men’s Health
According to this study, the following factors appear to contribute to the disparity between health outcomes in men and women.
While it has long been known that the life expectancy of men is consistency less than that of women, the data reported in this study suggest reasons for this disparity. The author, however, did not address why the factors that influence men’s health do not affect women’s health to the same degree.
In any case, the results of this study point to at least two areas that health providers, health educators, and men themselves can focus on to improve men’s health and long-term outlook.
First, personal health practices can have a tremendous influence on health outcomes. Physicians should take the time to educate their male patients about healthy lifestyle habits, how personal and family medical history may affect risk, opportunities for self-care, and the availability of effective screening interventions.
Second, response to stress also appears to be an important negative factor for men’s health. Although the science behind stress and its effects on health is still not well understood, enough is known to compel health care providers to recognize stress as a legitimate risk factor and to discuss adaptive coping behaviors—as opposed to the use of drugs, alcohol, and avoidance—with their male patients.
Men must strive to recognize what conditions predispose them to disease, injury and death before their time. With this information, they can take steps to increase the number of healthy years they get to spend with the women in their lives.
RESOURCES:
Men’s Health Network
http://www.menshealthnetwork.org
Men’s Health Week
http://www.menshealthweek.org/
Sources:
Williams DR. The health of men: structured inequalities and opportunities. Am. J. Public Health . 2003;93.
Last reviewed May 2, 2003 by Richard Glickman-Simon, MD
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