Downward Spiral: Men’s Health in the US
With more than 21% of all men refusing to go to a doctor to discover what may be wrong with them, it’s of no wonder that the health for men in the United States is in decline. Only about 40% of them go to the doctor when there is something seriously wrong. It’s now estimated that men will live almost 6 years less than women. But that isn’t even the most startling of the statistics. In a recent study, more than 51% of men either have hypertension, or are being treated with high blood pressure medication. Alongside that, 40.5% of men ages 20 years and older in the US are overweight or obese. These numbers are not good. In fact, they are tragic. In today’s blog, we’re going to discuss what is the top issues for men’s health today, and what are some ways to make lifestyle changes that will improve their health.
american men’s health is in decline
Recently, the average lifespan for a man in the United States was decreased to 73. It’s become the normal that women live longer than men; however, in recent years, the decline in the longevity of men in the US has become more apparent. With heart disease being the number one cause of all mortality, it’s no wonder that more than 51% of men are on high blood pressure medication, or diagnosed with hypertension. It’s astounding that 1 of every 2 men you come in contact with every day will be either diagnosed or treated for high blood pressure. When you consider that with the fact that only 12% of the US population is metabolically healthy, you start to piece the puzzle together that the health of men in the US is on the decline. More than 350,000 men will die of heart disease every year.
Cancer is the second leading cause of death for men in the US. Prostate cancer is the leading cancer among men. One in eight men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their life. Unfortunately, most of the cancers diagnosed every year are preventable through lifestyle change.
Mental health is also a huge concern for men in the United States. Almost 31% of men in the US have had depression over their lifetime. And when you combine that with the statistic in the first paragraph that only about 21% of men refuse to go to a doctor, this sets the stage for a mental health crisis among men. The pandemic did not help with the overall status of mental health for everyone in the country. However, since we’ve come out of the pandemic, the inflationary economic situation in the US has also put “another log on the fire” for men’s mental health. A study in 2018 indicated that prior to the pandemic more than 30% of men in the US drank 5 or more alcoholic drinks in one day. While the numbers still need measured for more accurate information for today’s male population, we do know that during the pandemic that alcohol consumption and drug abuse climbed among the US population.
ways men can improve their health
I know I have a lot of numbers and statistics above, but it’s important to realize that each number has people behind them. It’s heartbreaking that there are so many men in our country today that need help with their overall physical health. Fortunately, there are a number of lifestyle changes men can make that will help them improve their health. Creating a healthy lifestyle is the key to improving your overall health. What can men do to start improving their health?
Healthier Diet: Eating a whole foods diet and getting rid of highly processed foods is a great step in the direction of improving one’s overall health. Decreasing the amount of seed oils and refined sugar in the diet is a huge part of that process.
Limiting or avoiding Alcohol: Alcohol becomes a toxin in the body that the liver has to filter out. When your body has to take the time to filter out this toxin, it takes longer for it to do all its other functions. When alcohol is consumed in excess, this takes a toll on your liver and the rest of your organ systems.
Get Moving: Physical exercise is an important step in healthy lifestyle change. Whether its taking a walk, or strength training, physical movement aids the body in working optimally.
Positive Self-Talk: Your mind is a powerful ally in healing your body and improving your health. Talking to yourself in positive ways will assist you in making the necessary lifestyle changes you need. Mental health is so important.
Restful Sleep: Men may not need as much sleep as women; however, they do need quality sleep as well. Be sure to get at least 7-8 hours of sleep a night.
Stress Management: Stress is a huge factor in our everyday lives. Many men live with chronic stress and don’t even realize it. It’s important for men to figure out what methods will help them manage stress.
Men, you are important. Please examine your health and see what areas you might want to improve. If you’re not sure where to get started, please contact either your physician, or you can work with a health coach to see where you want to get started on taking control of your health and making sustainable lifestyle changes.