In this fast-paced world of stress, fast food and sleep deprivation, health is the last thing on the minds of many men. Meanwhile, physical and psychological disease poses a constant threat to men of every age, ethnicity and economic background. Fortunately, it is possible to help prevent the top diseases in men by knowing the risk factors and learning to recognize the early warning signs.
Heart Disease
Heart disease is the number one killer of men in the United States. It can manifest in many different forms, such as coronary artery disease, heart attack and atrial fibrillation. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), between 70 and 89 percent of sudden cardiac emergencies occur in men.
Signs and symptoms of heart disease include high blood pressure, rapid heart rate, chest pains (angina) and shortness of breath, though not all men experience these symptoms. According to the American Heart Association (AHA), the best way to prevent heart disease is by maintaining a healthy lifestyle centered on a balanced diet, daily exercise and effective stress-management skills.
Lung Cancer
Lung cancer is the most common type of cancer among both sexes. According to the CDC, smoking is responsible for 90 percent of lung cancer deaths in men, making it a leading cause of preventable death in the United States. Other risk factors for lung cancer include radon or asbestos exposure, air pollution and personal or family history.
Unfortunately, lung cancer usually does not cause symptoms until it has reached the advanced stages. When they do occur, symptoms often include coughing, shortness of breath, extreme fatigue, chest or arm pain and repeated lung infections like pneumonia.
Stroke
A stroke occurs when a blood clot temporarily blocks the flow of oxygen to the brain (ischemic), or a blood vessel in the brain bursts (hemorrhagic). It is the third most common disease in both sexes, though a man's risk is about 1.25 times higher than a woman's, according to Holistic Online.
Hypertension is the number one risk factor for stroke, according to the Stroke website. Often referred to as a "silent killer," hypertension increases the risk of stroke by putting undue stress on blood vessel walls, causing them to deteriorate and weaken. Other risk factors include high cholesterol, smoking, obesity and diabetes. Like heart disease, many of the risk factors for stroke are controllable with healthy lifestyle choices.
Prostate Cancer
Prostate cancer is the uncontrolled growth of cancerous cells originating in the prostate. According to the American Cancer Society, it is the second leading cause of cancer death among males, with a one in six rate of occurrence.
Despite its high prevalence, prostate cancer deaths are decreasing as better detection methods are discovered and implemented. It is recommended that men over age 50 be screened for the disease by undergoing a rectal exam and prostate-specific antigen blood test every year. Risk factors for prostate cancer include increasing age, North American or European nationality and a high-fat diet.
Suicide and Depression
Depression is a mental illness characterized by persistent feelings of hopelessness, loss of interest in hobbies and changes in eating and sleeping patterns. While it is more common among women, depression is more likely to lead to suicide in males. Though the reasons aren't fully understood, it is believed that men exhibit different symptoms and are less likely to seek help for depression than their female counterparts.
According to UK site Net Doctor, risk factors for suicide include social isolation, unemployment, chronic illness and presence of a mental illness like depression or bipolar disorder. Depression and other mental illnesses are usually treated with mood-altering medications, psychotherapy or a combination of the two.
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