Time to Focus on Men’s Health

This is a positive twist on a phrase that has caused a lot of damage in our society. Instead of it being man up, which is said to tell men not to show any vulnerability; we’re using Men up to say we are choosing men and their lives, calling upon men to stand up for their physical and mental health. In this article we seek to encourage younger and older men to seek help for mental health conditions if they persist for longer than a few weeks. The need for this awareness includes statistics such as men dying earlier than women, with males living an average of 75.1 years while females live to around 80.5 years. The three leading causes of death in men are accidents (men are almost twice as likely to die from accidents than women), cancer, and heart disease. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) states that accidents, like drowning, occupational mishaps, and firework accidents, are a leading cause of death in men. In addition, males are almost twice as likely as females to die in car accidents. Furthermore, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 13.2% of men aged 18 and over are in fair or poor health. In this article, we urge men to enrich their health and wellness through proper screenings and care.

While there are health issues unique to men such as prostate cancer, they also experience health issues that apply to women as well. The difference with the latter becomes that men are usually more reluctant to see a doctor when a health concern shows up, this is for both their physical and mental health. In raising awareness for men’s health, we encourage men and boys to take steps to impact their lifespan, relationships, and everyday well-being positively by raising awareness on the importance of men taking care of their health by striving for early detection of illnesses like heart disease, cancer, diabetes, and mental health conditions like depression all year. Early detection helps save lives! If the risk of an illness such as pre-diabetes is found during a test, lifestyle changes can stop the boulder and you won’t even have to deal with the illness; if prostate cancer for example is detected early then treatment can start early as well which could not only stop death by the illness but also possibly offer a less invasive treatment.

Mental illnesses can impact physical health by causing stomach aches, sleep disorders, and headaches and can even lead to more serious medical issues through behavioral health problems. So now health professionals tend to consider both physical and psychological health equally to treat one of the two or both. Some mental health challenges are more prevalent in the male population, including:

• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): This condition is caused by experiencing one or a series of traumatizing events, approximately 1.8% of men have PTSD at some point in life.
• Substance Use Disorders: Substance use disorders are a top mental health issue for men, affecting more males than females. In addition, peer pressure and stereotypes about masculinity can prompt men and boys to engage in behaviors that put them at greater risk of a substance use disorder.
• Anxiety Disorders: Anxiety disorders are also a top issue in men’s mental health. These conditions are marked by persistent feelings of worry, nervousness, or panic. They include phobias, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), social anxiety, and generalized anxiety disorder (GAD.)  In addition, men diagnosed with an anxiety disorder have higher rates of substance use disorder and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
• Depression: Depression is characterized by a sad or depressed mood lasting more than two weeks. Depression also has other symptoms, including guilt, loss of interest in previously enjoyed activities, a persistently low mood, and thoughts of suicide. Men and women have similar rates of depression, but men have a 3.5 times greater risk of dying by suicide than women, usually because women are most likely to ask for help, making this mental health concern especially important for men.

Below are some ways men can get ahead of their mental health, which could also positively affect their physical health. If someone is in a healthy mental state, they are more likely to notice when something is off in their bodies and hopefully seek help and it also eliminates the risks brought on by mental health issues.

• Seek the support of a therapist: Speaking with a mental health provider can equip you with new coping tools for moving forward.
• Maintain your physical health: You can promote positive mental health by taking care of your physical health. Remember to get a good night’s sleep, eat healthy meals, stay hydrated, and exercise daily. Exercise is an effective treatment for many cases of depression.

Mental, physical and otherwise; men’s health tends to take a backseat usually until it’s too late. The purpose of this article is to encourage men to take their health seriously, schedule their regular check-ups, go to the doctor when something is off and take the necessary steps to remain at optimum health. Focusing on the above-mentioned areas can help maintain and improve overall health and quality of life for men.