Transcript National Men’s Health Week - Riverside County Regional

National Men’s
Health Week
RCRMC LiveWell Campaign
Top 10 Health Concerns
of Men
Men are catching up to women in life expectancy, according to a 2006 National
Center for Health Statistics report. If current trends continue, in 50 years, men and
women will live the same length of time. Although overall life expectancy for men is
looking good, the male population still have some unique concerns. Research
shows:
 Despite recent declines in heart disease in the general population, the
mortality rate for African American men aged 35 to 44 years is more than
twice that for Caucasian men.
 An estimated 1/3 of men with type 2 diabetes (most common form of
diabetes) don’t know they have it. Many are unaware of the disease until they
develop problems such as impotence, vision loss, or kidney disease.
 Men commit suicide four times as often as women do, partly because
they’re more likely to use deadlier means—such as firearms—when they set
out to take their own lives.
Taking time to de-stress and look after your mental and physical health is not a
luxury, it’s a necessity. A healthier, happier you makes you a better spouse, father
and friend.
The leading causes of death for males are listed below, but you don’t have to
become a statistic if you take good care of your health.
All Races, Males
Leading
Causes of
Death for
Males
Source: Centers for
Disease Control and
Prevention
Percent
1) Heart disease
28.4
2) Cancer
24.1
3) Unintentional injuries
5.8
4) Stroke
5.2
5) Chronic obstructive
pulmonary disease
5.1
6) Diabetes
2.9
7) Influenza and pneumonia
2.4
8) Suicide
2.1
9) Kidney disease
1.6
10) Chronic liver disease
1.5
Heart Disease




In the United States, heart disease is the number one
killer of both women and men. As early as age 45, a
man’s risk of heart disease begins to rise significantly.
In 2002, 340,933 men died of heart disease in the
United States. Researchers have made great progress
in understanding heart disease and its risk factors, but
they still cannot predict who will get it.
Despite recent declines in heart disease in the general
population, the mortality rate for African American men
aged 35 to 44 years is more than twice that for
Caucasian men.
You can reduce your risk of heart disease by making
healthier lifestyle choices and getting treatment for
conditions that can damage your heart, such as high
cholesterol, diabetes, and high blood pressure. Other
preventive measures you can take:



Don’t smoke or use other tobacco products.
Eat a varied diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains and
low-fat foods.
Get at least 30 minutes of exercise most days of the week.
Cancer


Non-melanoma skin cancer, which rarely spreads to other parts of the
body, is the most common cancer for all men and women. The leading
cause of cancer death for both men and women is lung cancer. Other
cancers that affect men include prostate cancer, colon cancer and
testicular cancer.
SKIN CANCER: Excessive sun exposure is the single most important risk
factor for developing skin cancer. Your best defense against skin cancer is
to:


LUNG CANCER: According to the American Cancer Society, this year there
will be about 174,470 new cases of lung cancer. Lung cancer is a killer and
survival rates are poor. Overall, only one in ten patients diagnosed with
lung cancer will survive the next five years. Early diagnosis does increase
your chances of survival. If lung cancer is found before it spreads to
lymph nodes or other organs, the average five-year relative survival rate
is about 49 percent. Risk factors for lung cancer include:




Smoking and being around others’ smoke
Things around us at home or work (such as radon gas)
A family history of lung cancer
Some preventive measures you can take




Minimize contact with the sun during peak hours (10am to 4pm) and through the
use of sunscreen and other protective measures.
Don’t smoke
Avoid second-hand smoke
Make sure your home and workplace are radon free
COLON CANCER: Cancer of the color or rectum is also called colorectal
cancer. In the United States, colorectal cancer is the fourth most common
cancer in men, after skin, prostate, and lung cancer. Research has shown
that people with certain risk factors are more likely than others to develop
colorectal cancer. Some of these risk factors include:




Age: Colorectal cancer is more likely to occur as people get older. More than 90
percent of people with this disease are diagnosed after age 50.
Colorectal polyps: Polyps are growths on the inner wall of the colon or rectum.
They are common in people over age 50. Most polyps are benign, but some can
become cancer. Finding and removing polyps may reduce the risk of colorectal
cancer.
Family History: Close relatives of a person with a history of colorectal cancer are
somewhat more likely to develop this disease themselves, especially if the relative
had the cancer at a young age.
Making the following lifestyle changes can help you prevent colorectal cancer, and
lead to a healthier life:






Get five servings of vegetables, fruits and whole grains a day
Limit red meat and saturated fat
Exercise five days a week for at least half an hour
Quit Smoking
Avoid alcohol
Maintain a healthy weight
Accidents
(Unintentional Injuries)



Eighteen people in the United States die every hour due
to injuries, according to the first national report on
unintentional injuries issued in 2004 by the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention. The report showed that
unintentional injuries are the fifth leading cause of
death in the United States and responsible for sending
one of every three people to the emergency room for
treatment.
Men are more likely to suffer a fatal injury than women.
Men are nearly twice as likely to die as a result of a
motor vehicle accident, and the risk is higher among
men aged 15.24.
To reduce your risk of injury:




Don’t drive while sleepy or under the influence of drugs or
alcohol.
Use your seat belt.
Keep your speed down.
Use safety gear during sports activities.
Stroke



A stroke is sometimes called a “brain attack.” It can
injure the brain like a heart attack can injure the heart.
A person who has a stroke may suffer little or no brain
damage and disability, especially if the stroke is treated
promptly. But if not treated promptly, a stroke can lead
to severe brain damage and disability, or even death.
Stroke risks are higher in people who have a family
history of stroke and for African Americans. African
American men have a higher risk of disability and death
from stroke than Caucasian men. This is partly because
more African American men have high blood pressure,
a major stroke risk factor.
You can’t control some stroke risks, such as family
history, age and race, but you can control the leading
cause—high blood pressure—as well as contributing
factors such as smoking and diabetes. Additional
preventive measures you can take:




Lower your intake of cholesterol (eggs, butter and lard)
and saturated fat (cheese, whole milk and regular ground
beef).
Don’t smoke.
If you have diabetes, follow your doctor’s instructions for
eating, exercising and taking insulin.
Maintain a healthy weight by exercising and eating right.
Chronic Obstructive
Pulmonary Disease
(COPD)

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a lung
disease in which the lungs are damaged, making it hard
to breathe. The quality of life for a person suffering
from COPD diminishes as the disease progresses. At
the onset, there is minimal shortness of breath. People
with COPD may eventually require supplemental
oxygen and may have to rely on mechanical respiratory
assistance. COPD includes:



Emphysema—Usually caused by smoking, having
emphysema means some of the air sacs in your lungs are
damaged, making it hard to breathe.
Chronic bronchitis—The cells lining the inside of the
bronchi are continuously red and swollen when you have
chronic bronchitis. The airways in your lungs have become
narrow and partly clogged with mucus that cannot be
cleared.
Emphysema and chronic bronchitis are strongly
associated with lung cancer. If you smoke, you are 12
times as likely to die of COPD as are men who have
never smoked. Some preventive measures you can
take:



Don’t smoke.
Avoid secondhand smoke.
Minimize exposure to workplace chemicals (lead and
organic solvents).