No. 1 — Heart disease
According to the American Heart Association, in 2004, over 410,000 men died of cardiovascular disease, the leading cause of death in both sexes. Because men usually develop heart disease 10 to 15 years earlier than women do, they’re more likely to die of it in the prime of life. About one-fourth of all heart-disease-related deaths occur in men ages 35 to 65.
You can reduce your risk of heart disease by making healthier lifestyle choices and getting appropriate treatment for other conditions that can increase your risk of coronary artery disease, such as high cholesterol, diabetes and high blood pressure. Some preventive measures you can take:
- Don’t smoke or use other tobacco products.
- Eat a varied diet rich in fruits and vegetables, and avoid high-fat foods.
- Maintain a healthy weight.
- Get at least 30 minutes of exercise most days of the week.
- Have your cholesterol tested.
- If you have diabetes, keep your blood sugar under control.
- Get regular blood pressure checks.
- Take a daily dose of aspirin, if your doctor OKs it.
No. 2 — Cancer
In 2003, the CDC recorded nearly 288,000 men who died of cancer, the second-leading cause of death for both sexes. Lung cancer — 90 percent of it caused by cigarette smoking — is the most common cause of cancer death in both sexes. In 2003, 89,964 men died of lung cancer.
The CDC also notes that prostate cancer and colorectal cancer are the second- and third-leading causes of cancer death in men.
Some preventive measures you can take:
- Don’t smoke or use other tobacco products.
- Eat a varied diet rich in fruits and vegetables, and avoid high-fat foods.
- Maintain a healthy weight.
- Get at least 30 minutes of exercise most days of the week.
- Limit your exposure to sun and use sunscreen.
- Drink alcohol only in moderation, if at all.
- Be aware of potential cancer-causing substances (carcinogens) in your home and workplace, and take steps to reduce your exposure to these substances.
- Have regular preventive health screenings.
- Know your family medical history and review it with your doctor.
No. 3 — Unintentional injuries
In 2003, accidents killed 70,532 men, according to the CDC. Motor vehicle crashes were the leading cause. More than twice as many men as women died in traffic accidents. Male drivers involved in such accidents were almost twice as likely as female drivers to be intoxicated. To reduce your chances of a fatal crash:
- Use your seat belt every time you drive.
- Don’t exceed speed limits.
- Don’t drive after drinking alcohol.
- Don’t drive while sleepy or under the influence of drugs.
The CDC recorded poisoning as the second-leading cause of fatal unintentional injury to men in 2003 — 13,176 men died of it. In comparison, 6,281 women died of poisoning that year. To reduce your risk of poisoning:
- Place carbon monoxide and smoke detectors near bedrooms in your house.
- Have fuel-burning appliances inspected each year.
- Store household products in their original containers.
- Read and follow label instructions for household products.
- Turn on a light when giving or taking medicine and follow label instructions.
- Ventilate areas in which you use chemical products.
- Post the poison control number,
800-222-1222
, by each telephone in your home.
Falls and drowning were the third- and fourth-leading causes of fatal unintentional injury to men. In 2003, falls caused 8,910 deaths among men, compared with 8,319 deaths among women. Drowning accounted for 2,632 deaths among men and 674 deaths among women.
Common-sense precautions such as using a safety ladder, placing nonskid mats in showers and tubs, and never swimming alone in a large or unfamiliar body of water can reduce the risks.
Workplace accidents — which include some vehicle crashes, poisonings, falls and drowning — are a significant cause of fatal injury to men, partly because men are concentrated in dangerous occupations such as agriculture, mining and construction.
No. 4 — Stroke
In 2004, over 58,000 men died of stroke, according to the American Heart Association. Although stroke affects equal proportions of men and women, men have better chances of surviving than women do. You can’t control some stroke risk factors, such as family history, age and race, but you can control the leading cause — high blood pressure — as well as contributing factors such as smoking and diabetes.
Additional preventive measures:
- Lower your intake of cholesterol and saturated fat. Get your cholesterol checked.
- Get regular blood pressure checks, and if it’s higher than normal, take measures to control it.
- Don’t smoke.
- Control diabetes.
- Maintain a healthy weight.
- Get at least 30 minutes of exercise most days of the week.
- Manage stress.
- Limit alcohol consumption.
- Talk with your doctor about taking a daily dose of aspirin.
No. 5 — Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
In 2003, according to the American Lung Association, 60,714 men died of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), a group of chronic lung conditions that includes emphysema and chronic bronchitis. It’s strongly associated with lung cancer, the leading cause of cancer deaths among men. The main cause is smoking. Men who smoke are 12 times as likely to die of COPD as are men who’ve never smoked.
Some preventive measures you can take:
- Don’t smoke.
- Avoid secondhand smoke.
- Minimize exposure to workplace chemicals.
No. 6 — Diabetes
The American Heart Association reports that in 2004, 35,000 men died of diabetes, a disease that affects the way the body uses blood sugar (glucose). Excess body fat, especially around the middle, is an important risk factor for diabetes. About 80 percent of people who have the disease are overweight or obese.
The diabetes complications most likely to be fatal are heart disease and stroke, which occur at two to four times the average rate in people with diabetes. Men with diabetes haven’t benefited as much from recent advances in heart disease treatment as have men without diabetes.
An estimated one-third of men with the most common form of diabetes don’t know they have it. Many are unaware of the disease until they develop complications such as impotence (erectile dysfunction), nerve damage causing pain or loss of sensation in the hands or feet, vision loss, or kidney disease.
Some preventive measures you can take:
- Maintain a healthy weight.
- Eat a varied diet, rich in fruits, vegetables and low-fat foods.
- Get at least 30 minutes of exercise most days of the week.
- Get your fasting blood sugar level checked periodically.
- Know your family’s diabetes history and discuss it with your doctor.
No. 7 — Influenza and pneumonia
In 2003, 28,778 men died of pneumonia and influenza, according to the CDC. These lung infections are especially life-threatening to people whose lungs have already been damaged by COPD, asthma or smoking. The risk of death from pneumonia or influenza is also higher among people with heart disease, diabetes or a weakened immune system due to AIDS or immunosuppressive drugs.
You can reduce your risk of complications and death from pneumonia and influenza by getting immunized. A yearly flu shot is up to 90 percent effective in preventing influenza in healthy adults. The pneumococcal vaccine can reduce the risk of getting pneumonia by more than half.
No. 8 — Suicide
In 2003, the CDC noted 25,203 men committed suicide. Men commit suicide four times as often as women do, partly because they’re more likely to use deadlier means — such as firearms — when they set out to take their own lives. Depression — which is estimated to affect 7 percent of men in any given year — is an important risk factor for suicide. But male depression is underdiagnosed, partly because men are less likely than women are to seek treatment for it. In addition, men don’t always develop standard symptoms such as sadness, worthlessness and excessive guilt. Instead, they may be more likely to complain of fatigue, irritability, sleep disturbances and loss of interest in work or hobbies. Alcohol or drug abuse — which is more common in men — can mask depression and make it more difficult to diagnose.
People at risk of suicide may:
- Be depressed, moody, socially withdrawn or aggressive
- Have suffered a recent life crisis
- Show changes in personality
- Feel worthless
- Abuse alcohol or drugs
- Have frequent thoughts about death
- Talk about death and self-destruction
If you find yourself avoiding others, feeling hostile and worthless, thinking about death and using alcohol and drugs to numb your pain, talk with your doctor. In an urgent situation, an emergency room or crisis center can help. Friends or family members may be the first to notice your uncharacteristic behavior. Take their advice and seek help. If you or someone you love is depressed, remove any access to firearms in the home. Don’t expect to be able to overcome the feelings of depression without medical help. This is a disease, not something you can “snap out of.”
No. 9 — Kidney disease
Kidney failure, most often a complication of diabetes or high blood pressure, took the lives of 20,481 men in 2003 says the CDC. Control of diabetes and high blood pressure can prevent or slow the progression of kidney disease. Another cause of kidney failure is overuse of medications such as aspirin and ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, others) that are toxic to the kidneys.
Some preventive measures you can take:
- Drink plenty of fluids.
- Exercise regularly.
- Maintain your proper weight.
- Don’t smoke.
- Get checked regularly for diabetes and high blood pressure.
- Limit your use of over-the-counter pain relievers.
- Take all medications only as directed.
No. 10 — Alzheimer’s disease
About 4.5 million older Americans — both men and women — have Alzheimer’s disease. In 2003, 18,335 men died of Alzheimer’s, which usually develops in people age 65 or older. But statistically there are more women who have the disease, because women live longer than men — and the older you are, the more likely you are to have Alzheimer’s. The American population has more and more older adults each year. Consequently, the number of people with Alzheimer’s has more than doubled since 1980 and continues to increase. As men live longer because of improved treatments for other conditions, they are more likely to die of Alzheimer’s.
Although experts are doing promising research into preventing Alzheimer’s, currently there’s no proven way to prevent the onset of the disease. Taking steps to improve your cardiovascular health may help:
- Lose weight if you’re overweight.
- Exercise regularly.
- Control your blood pressure.
- Keep your cholesterol levels in normal ranges.
While there is some controversy about whether it’s effective, some research indicates doing intellectually challenging activities may help delay the onset of dementia. It certainly can’t hurt — and it may help maintain your mental fitness.
Putting health risks into perspective
It’s important to understand that this ranking of health risks applies to the entire population of American men, no matter what their age. Although heart disease is the No. 1 lifetime health threat to men, it tops all other causes of death among men in only two age groups: ages 45 to 54, and age 65 and over. From childhood until age 44, accidents are the most significant threat to men’s lives. Cancer emerges as the leading killer only in men ages 55 to 64.
The top killers also vary somewhat among men from different ethnic groups. Black men, whose life expectancy is shorter than that of men from other races, are at higher risk of death by homicide and AIDS. American Indian men are more likely to die of chronic liver disease and cirrhosis. More white men die of Alzheimer’s disease than do men from other groups. In men of Asian or Pacific Island descent, the top two killers are the same as for men of other ethnic groups, but their order is reversed — they are more likely to die of cancer than of heart disease. Hispanic men are at higher risk of death by accidental injury, at least partly because the population of Hispanic men is younger than average.
The bottom line: Be concerned about health risks, but don’t panic. Do all you can to lead a healthy lifestyle — eat healthy foods, stay physically active, don’t smoke, get regular checkups and guard against accidents. By making these preventive measures a way of life, you’ll increase your chances of staying vital and active into your 80s and 90s — well beyond the statistical average of 74.8.
