Men’s Health – life expectancy needs improvement

June is National Men’s Health Month. The goal of National Men’s Health Month is to heighten awareness of preventable health problems and encourage early detection and treatment of disease among men and boys.

With a current trend going backwards in life expectancy for men there’s no better time than now to focus on men’s health. The CDC reports that the gap in life expectancy between American men and women is now the biggest it has been since the mid-1990s -- almost 6 years, a big jump since a low of 4.8 years in 2010.

The American Academy of Family Physicians found that 55% of men surveyed had not seen their medical provider for a physical exam in the previous year, even though 40% of them had at least one chronic condition.

Annual check-ups, in addition to an overall wellness exam, also offer other important health-related items such as immunizations & screenings. Depending on age and medical history, screenings might include checking for certain types of cancer; high blood pressure; high cholesterol; diabetes; sexually transmitted diseases (STDs); and mental health conditions, such as depression and PTSD.

An example of the significance of regular screenings and exams is prostate cancer, the most common cancer in men in the US, according to the National Cancer Institute. In its early stages, it often presents no symptoms but can be detected in screenings. When discovered early, prostate cancer is often treatable.

Also, consider the importance of follow-up appointments with your medical care providers. These appointments are times to talk about concerns, discuss medications, and follow up on past visits and test results. It’s important to follow the full course of care as recommended by your provider.

An important factor in life-long health is establishing routine check-ups from an early age. Get children and young adults comfortable with the medical setting. It’s also important to set a good example in prioritizing your own health and preventative care.

One reason why men tend to not prioritize seeing their providers regularly can be that early lack of established annual check-ups. Females often establish a routine early in their young adult lives with regular check-ups. Many times these appointments are centered around reproductive health, contraceptives, etc. so they can almost be unavoidable. Having these types of regular appointments helps set precedence for female patients and gets them comfortable with their provider interactions and care.

An area of health that men, especially young men can focus on more is their mental health. According to the CDC in 2020, women were diagnosed with depression twice as much as men, but men died by suicide at a four-times higher rate. Male deaths represent 79% of suicides, amounting to roughly 105 men who die by suicide every day.

To schedule an appointment for yourself or to help a family member get their appointment scheduled for one of the five Mille Lacs Health System clinic locations please call 320-532-3154.