Top 7 health risks in men
According to Statistics of life expectancy in Malaysia 2021, women generally have longer life expectancy than men, which is 78.3 years old and 73.2 years old respectively. From infancy to old age, women are simply healthier than men. Averagely, men still die five years earlier than their wives. While the reasons are partly biological, men's approach to their health plays a role too.
Men are notorious for avoiding the doctor and ignoring unusual symptoms. This may help explain why women tend to live longer. Don’t let complacency take a toll on your health.
Heart disease
The most common form of heart disease is hypertension. Untreated high blood pressure can lead to serious consequences such as heart attacks, strokes and other cardiovascular diseases. According to National Health and Morbidity Survey 2019, 3 in every 10 Malaysians experience high blood pressure. Among those below 30 years old, hypertension occurs 3 times more in males than females.
Atherosclerosis (narrowed blood vessels due to accumulation of cholesterol plaque), is also a common heart disease in Malaysia. Though females have higher raised total cholesterol compared to men, the latter should not neglect the risk of developing atherosclerosis. This is because atherosclerosis can lead to ischemic heart disease, the leading death cause in Malaysia.
Your doctor can calculate your risk for cardiovascular disease based on several risk factors, including your cholesterol level, blood pressure, smoking habits and alcohol consumption. Routine check-ups can help keep that heart beating.
Respiratory disease
In Malaysia, up to 21% of people smoke cigarettes and 5% smoke e-cigarette. Tobacco smoke causes 90% of all lung cancers; whereas e-cigarette smoke can cause lung collapse too.
Lung cancer spreads early, usually before it grows large enough to cause symptoms or even show up on an X-ray. By the time it is found, lung cancer is often advanced and difficult to cure.
Quitting smoking at any age reduces the risk for lung cancer. Few preventive measures are as effective as stopping smoking. Contact your medical provider for more information about smoking cessation. Additionally, if you have smoked for more than 30 years, a CT scan may be prudent to screen for lung cancer if you are exhibiting any form of signs and symptoms.
Diabetes
Below diagram shows the daily sugar consumption in Malaysian adults:
Most of the Malaysians consume excess sugar intake everyday, which is supposedly not more than 50g per day (1 teaspoon: 5g). This can increase the risk of getting diabetes. If left untreated, diabetes can lead to nerve and kidney damage, heart disease and stroke, and even vision problems or blindness. Men with diabetes face a risk of lower testosterone levels and sexual impotence. This can lead to increased depression or anxiety.
The best way to control your diabetes is to eat healthily and exercise. If you have a family history of diabetes, it is important to see your doctor to have periodic screenings for diabetes.
Harmful use of alcohol
Men face higher rates of alcohol-related deaths and hospitalizations than women do. Around 3 millions deaths are contributed by harmful use of alcohol globally every year. Men binge drink twice as much as women. They are also prone to increased aggression and sexual assault against women.
According to WHO, deaths caused by alcohol in Malaysian men include road traffic injuries (17.6%), liver disease (16.8%) and cancer (0.6%). Alcohol consumption increases your risk for cancer of the mouth, throat, esophagus, liver, and colon. Alcohol also interferes with testicular function and hormone production. This can result in impotence and infertility.
Depression and suicide
Researchers at The National Health and Morbidity Survey 2019 estimate that at least half of a million Malaysians suffer from depressive disorders, including suicidal thoughts.
In depression, the brain chemicals and stress hormones are out of balance. Sleep, appetite, and energy level are disturbed. Research even suggests men with depression are more likely to develop heart disease.
Some ways to combat depression include:
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Getting regular exercise, even just going for routine walks around your neighbourhood
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Journaling or writing down your thoughts
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Communicating openly with friends and family
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Seeking professional help
Erectile dysfunction
Erectile dysfunction (ED) may not be life threatening, but it still signals an important health problem. 3 in 10 Malaysian men admitted that they had great difficulty getting hard. Men with ED report less enjoyment in life and are more likely to be depressed.
If you are a young man, ED may be due to over-expectation than it being an actual problem. Practice a healthy lifestyle, manage your stress well and seek counselling or proper sexual health information for reassurance.
If you are an older men, this could be a disease itself or a symptom of other diseases. Erectile dysfunction is most often caused by atherosclerosis -- the same process that causes heart attacks and strokes. In fact, having ED frequently means that blood vessels throughout the body are in less-than-perfect health. Doctors consider erectile dysfunction as an early warning sign for cardiovascular disease.
Benign prostatic hypertrophy
Benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH) is a condition whereby the prostate gland is enlarged. This is one health problem men can lay full claim to -- after all, women don't have prostates. Prostate is a walnut-sized gland that is situated behind the penis that secretes seminal fluids that is important for ejaculation and male reproductive health. The prostate is prone to problems as men age and 16% of Malaysians men aged 40 and above suffer from BPH.
Difficulty in urinating, poor urine flow, experiencing the inability to completely empty the bladder despite the increased frequency of urination are some of the signs and symptoms that may be suggestive of you are suffering from BPH. The two most common forms of treatment for BPH are medications and surgeries. Consult your doctor now for a prostate check-up if you experience any problems with urination.
All in all
Every men should schedule yearly check-ups with their doctor. Your doctor can recommend lifestyle changes, medications, or other treatments, based on your current condition and to help reduce the risk of getting diseases in the future. Visit your medical provider to learn how you can reduce your risk of developing common conditions, such as cancer, depression, heart disease, and respiratory diseases, which are more prevalent in the male population.
Medically reviewed by Ashwini Nair, MB BCh BAO.
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References:
1. Men’s Health: Everything You Need to Know. Accessed June 13, 2022. https://www.healthline.com/health/mens-health
2. Men’s Health: 6 Top Health Risks for Men. Accessed June 13, 2022. https://www.webmd.com/men/features/6-top-health-threats-men
3. Top 10 Male Health Problems: What to Watch Out For. Healthline. Published January 15, 2013. Accessed June 13, 2022. https://www.healthline.com/health/top-10-health-risks-for-men
