Top Health Risks for Men

Understanding Men’s Health Issues

Men, just like women, have a unique set of health risks that increase as they get older. The good news is, most men’s health risks can be prevented by making certain lifestyle changes. Knowing the top health concerns and risk factors can help men be proactive and take charge of their health.

Heart Disease

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), heart disease is the leading cause of death for men in the United States. Common risk factors for heart disease include:

• Having diabetes
• Being overweight or obese
• Eating an unhealthy diet
• Leading a sedentary lifestyle
• Excessive consumption of alcohol

Lung Cancer

Lung cancer is the second most common cancer in men. The most common risk factors of lung cancer are:

• Use of tobacco (cigarettes, cigars, pipe smoking)
• Secondhand smoke
• Exposure to radon
• Exposure to asbestos
• Being exposed to cancer-causing agents and carcinogens in the workplace

Prostate Cancer

Statistics reported by the American Cancer Society show that the chances of men developing prostate cancer rises rapidly after 50. The most common risk factors of prostate cancer are:

• Being obese or overweight
• Smoking
• Exposure to chemicals
• Prostatitis (inflammation of the prostate gland)

Some risk factors of prostate cancer are not controllable, such as age, race/ethnicity (prostate cancer develops more in African American men), and family history. With regular screenings, prostate cancer can be detected early and is highly treatable.

Skin Cancer

In the U.S., men over 50 have a higher rate of skin cancer than women. Risk factors may include the following:

• Exposure to UV light (from the sun and tanning beds)
• Having many moles
• Being fair-skinned or having skin that freckles
• Having light-colored hair
• Having a weakened immune system

Stroke

The CDC reports that stroke is the 5th leading cause of death in men, but strokes can be preventable. The following are common risk factors of a stroke:

• Smoking
• Being obese or overweight
• Having diabetes
• Excessive consumption of alcohol
• Lack of physical activity

If you have a stroke, know these warning signs and act F.A.S.T.

F - Face drooping to one side.

A- Arm weakness. When both arms are raised, one will drift down.

S - Speech slurring.

T - Time. If a person is showing any of the above symptoms, contact 911 immediately.

Contact Kirby Medical Center

At Kirby Medical Center, we are dedicated to helping both men and women live a healthy life. Contact Kirby Medical Group at 217-762-6241 to learn more about how we can help you with all your healthcare needs.