Men are generally more prone to certain diseases due to biological, lifestyle, and behavioral factors. Studies indicate that men have a shorter life expectancy than women, often attributed to higher rates of cardiovascular diseases, cancers, metabolic disorders, and lifestyle-related illnesses. Understanding these diseases and adopting preventive strategies can improve men’s health and longevity.
Cardiovascular disease (CVD)
CVD is the leading cause of death in men worldwide, with risk increasing due to lifestyle factors, genetic predisposition, and aging. Common conditions include coronary artery disease, hypertension, heart failure, and stroke. Men are often diagnosed with CVD earlier than women, partly due to differences in sex hormones and a higher prevalence of risk factors such as unhealthy diet, sedentary lifestyle, high cholesterol levels, diabetes, and chronic stress. Risk further increases with smoking and excessive alcohol intake. Symptoms include chest pain, shortness of breath, and fatigue, which are often neglected or ignored, which results in late diagnosis and treatment.
Preventive measures include a healthy diet, at least 150 minutes of moderate exercise per week (e.g., brisk walking, cycling, or swimming), maintaining a healthy weight, and controlling blood pressure and cholesterol levels. Screenings and early intervention are very important and should not be ignored, especially for those with a family history of heart disease.
Prostate disease
It is one of the most common health issues among men, more so with increasing age. The two main diseases that affect the prostate are benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), prostatitis, and prostate cancer.
BPH is a growth of the prostate that is not cancerous, causing problems such as frequent urination, urgency, weak or intermittent stream, and having to urinate at night. It is due to hormonal changes and affects men aged 50 years and above. It can be treated by changing one’s lifestyle, and medications, and if the symptoms are severe or non-responsive to medicines, then surgery may be considered. Laser enucleation is the current gold standard for enlarged prostate.
Prostate cancer is the most common cancer among men globally. It is a silent disease with early stages causing no symptoms at all; however, advanced cancer may cause similar symptoms to those of BPH including bone pain, loss of weight, and appetite. The PSA blood test and Digital rectal examination are used for screening of the disease and treatment depends on the stage of the cancer.
Diabetes
Diabetes is a chronic metabolic disease characterized by raised blood glucose levels due to the inability of the body to use insulin effectively or produce enough insulin. Men are more likely to have complications from the disease at an early age than women. Men with diabetes are at higher risk of developing CVD, kidney failure, nerve damage, and vision problems. Other problems include low testosterone, erectile dysfunction, and muscle weakness. Symptoms of the disease include increased urination, increased thirst, constant fatigue, slow healing of wounds, and weight loss despite eating normal amounts of food.
Prevention and management involve watching what one eats, exercising regularly, avoiding being overweight, and visiting the doctor for blood sugar checks. It is also important that men with diabetes get checks for their heart, kidneys, and nerves.
Lung disease
It is a major public health issue for men, with its leading causes being Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and lung cancer. The primary risk factor is still smoking, other factors include occupational exposure to pollutants, environmental toxins, and genetic predisposition.
Symptoms include shortness of breath, chronic cough, mucus production, chest pain, weight loss, and coughing up blood. Symptoms are controlled through smoking cessation and the use of medications such as bronchodilators and steroids. Screening for lung cancer in high-risk individuals leads to better survival rates because symptoms appear late.
Preventive measures include stopping smoking, staying out of polluted areas, exercising, and getting immediately evaluated at the onset of symptoms.
Colorectal disease
For men, colorectal disease includes colorectal cancer, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), and diverticular disease. Colorectal cancer is a leading cancer among men and the risk factors include age, family history, red and processed meat, smoking, obesity, and sedentary life. It has signs such as changes in bowel habits, blood in the stool, unexplained weight loss, and abdominal pain. Screening by colonoscopy at the age of 45 or earlier for those at higher risk is highly effective in early diagnosis and improvement in survival rates.
Liver disease
Acute and chronic liver disease is a significant public health issue for men, with the major complications being cirrhosis, hepatitis, and cancer. The reasons for this are alcohol, obesity, and viral infections which are more frequent in men than in women. Symptoms include yellowing of the eyes and skin, weight loss, and abdominal pain. Early liver function tests and imaging lead to better results.
Preventative measures include; avoiding or limiting alcohol intake, avoiding being overweight, and getting the hepatitis vaccination.
Erectile dysfunction and infertility
ED and infertility are disparate but sometimes co-occurring disorders that affect male reproductive and sexual functions. They are mainly related to CVD, diabetes, obesity, low production of testosterone, neurological diseases, and drugs. Other significant causes include stress, anxiety, depression, lifestyle factors such as smoking, high alcohol consumption, and a sedentary lifestyle.
Mental health
Mental health among boys and men is generally under recognized and under-seeking treatment owing to cultural norms, prejudice, and the tendency to avoid seeking assistance. Some of the most common disorders include depression, anxiety, substance abuse, and death by suicide.
Men tend to present depression in a different manner than women, with manifestations of anger, aggressiveness, or engaging in high-risk behavior rather than the usual depressed mood. Other anxiety disorders such as general anxiety disorder and panic disorder can limit one’s functioning in society and lead to other health complications through stress. Substance abuse, including alcohol and drugs, is more common among men than women and many use the substances to cope with stress or other emotional problems. Some of the factors that prevent people from seeking treatment are fear of being perceived as weak, ignorance, and the absence of mental health services.
It is therefore important to encourage men to open up, get checked up for their mental health, and talk to a counsellor without being judged. It is also important to note that exercise, interaction with people, meditation, yoga, and adequate sleep help in reducing stress. Mental health is an important part of people’s lives and its promotion can help prevent suicides and improve the quality of life of men.