June is Men’s Health Month – an opportunity to help your physician customers heighten the awareness of preventable health problems and encourage early detection and treatment of disease among men and boys.
Men die at higher rates than women from the top 10 causes of death, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), on average, they die almost five years earlier than women.
It gets worse, guys. Men’s Health Network (www.menshealthnetwork.org) points out that for every 100,000 people, 863.5 men die compared to 623.5 women. When broken down by disease, the numbers look as follows:
- Heart disease: 214.5 men vs. 134.3 women
- Cerebrovascular disease: 36.7 men vs. 35.2 women
- Chronic lower respiratory disease: 47.5 men vs. 38.5 women
- Influenza and pneumonia: 18.6 men vs. 14.0 women
- Chronic liver disease and cirrhosis: 13.8 men vs. 6.8 women
- Diabetes mellitus: 25.6 men vs. 17.6 women
- HIV disease: 3.1 men vs. 1.1 women
- Unintentional injuries, motor vehicle-related injuries and poisoning: 53.1 men vs. 26.6 women
- Kidney disease: 16.1 men vs. 11.3 women
- Cancer: 211.6 men vs. 146.8 women
- Stroke: 39.7 men vs. 37.8 women
- Suicide: 20.3 men vs. 5.5 women
- Homicide: 8.2 men vs. 2.1 women
In fact, one of the only diseases cited that takes a heavier toll on women is Alzheimer’s disease. (For every 100,000 people, 25.9 women die of Alzheimer’s disease vs. 19.3 men.) That said, one in six men are diagnosed with prostate cancer, according to Men’s Health.
Staying healthy
It’s never too late to take steps to protect one’s health. Men’s Health recommends the following:
- Shield your heart: Arteries become stiff with age, inhibiting bloodflow and increasing the risk of a heart attack or stroke. Irish researchers have found that supplementing with 500 milligrams (mg) of vitamin C daily significantly improves arterial flex.
- Protect your skin. While you sleep, your body produces collagen and elastin – two proteins that help the skin stay smooth.
- Preserve your vision: Refined carbohydrates can raise your risk of age-related macular degeneration by 49 percent, according to a Tufts University study.
- Protect your hearing: Egg yokes are a big source of phosphatidylhcoline, a key component of cell membranes in your ears.
Source: www.menhealth.com/health/5-ways-keep-your-body-strong-and-healthy.
Fun in the sun? Not so fast!
June is also a good time to focus on skin protection, particularly as warm, sunny days lure us outdoors. You can reduce your risk of skin damage and skin cancer by seeking shade under an umbrella, tree or other shelter before you need relief from the sun, advises The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Prevention. Even better, when outdoors (whether in the sun or shade), protect your skin by using sunscreen and wearing protective clothing.
Long-sleeved shirts, long pants and skirts can provide protection from UV rays, and clothes made from tightly woven fabric offer the best protection, notes CDC. A wet T-shirt offers much less UV protection than a dry one, and darker colors may offer more protection than lighter colors. Hats – particularly hats with wide, protective brims – offer additional protection from the sun, while sunglasses protect the eyes from UV rays and reduce the risk of cataracts.
Sunscreen
CDC recommends applying a broad-spectrum sunscreen with at least SPF 15 before going outdoors, even on slightly cloudy or cool days. Sunscreen contains chemicals designed to interact with the skin and protect it from UV rays. Most sun protection products work by absorbing, reflecting or scattering sunlight. However, not all products contain the same ingredients, warns the CDC. If one product causes skin sensitivity, it’s important to switch to another.
Sunscreens are assigned a sun protection factor (SPF) number that rates their effectiveness in blocking UV rays. Higher numbers indicate more protection. Sunscreen wears off and must be reapplied, particularly if you stay out in the sun for more than two hours, as well as after swimming, sweating or toweling off. In addition, it’s important to keep an eye on the sunscreen’s expiration date. Sunscreen without an expiration date has a shelf life of no more than three years, but its shelf life is shorter if it has been exposed to high temperatures. Finally, some makeup and lip balms contain some of the same chemicals used in sunscreens. However, if they do not have at least SPF 15, they don’t offer sufficient protection when used alone.
Source: http://www.cdc.gov/cancer/skin/basic_info/sun-safety.htm.