Is your husband being difficult about going in for his routine checkup? We know how hard it can be to get your man to pay attention to his health needs, especially in the absence of a true emergency. More often than not, men with health problems choose to suffer in silence hoping their issue will go away before seeing a doctor. Discover 10 important health stats that will encourage the man in your life to make an appointment today!
1. Did you know that 70 to 89 percent of cardiac arrests happen to men? Heart disease is the leading cause of death for men in the United States and the leading cause of disability. Half of the men who suddenly die of heart disease have no previous symptoms. Even if you appear to have no symptoms, routine visits to your primary care provider are crucial.
2. Are you aware that nearly 1 in 7 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer at some point in their life? Prostate cancer continues to be the most common cancer among American men. As men age, the risk increases for developing prostate cancer.
3. Today, nearly 55 percent of men are more likely to die from melanoma than women. Among the seven most common cancers in the United States, melanoma is the only disease whose incidence is rising. Just between 2000 and 2009 alone, melanoma has surged 1.9 percent annually. In 2015, an estimated 9,940 people will die from melanoma.
4. Killing approximately 87,000 men per year, lung cancer is known as the deadliest disease in men. Between 1999 and 2012, the number of deaths due to lung cancer has increased approximately 3.5 percent. In 2015 an estimated 158,040 Americans are predicted to die from lung cancer, accounting for approximately 27 percent of all cancer deaths in America.
“While lung cancer can be attributed to several different risk factors such as environmental issues, the leading cause for lung cancer is still smoking. By quitting smoking a person can reduce their risk of dying from lung cancer by 21% within five years of quitting.”
- James Meyer, D.O. UnityPoint Clinic – Pulmonology – Fort Dodge
5. Nearly 35 percent of men over the age of 20 are overweight or obese. There are a variety of health risks associated with obesity. Research has shown that substantial weight increases heighten the risk for conditions such as:
- Coronary heart disease
- Cancer
- Type 2 diabetes
- Stroke
- Liver and gallbladder disease
- Osteoarthritis
- High Blood Pressure
- Sleep apnea and respiratory problems
6. Did you know nearly 15.5 million men were diagnosed with diabetes in 2014? Diabetes is a great burden on those affected, a staggering 29.1 million people have diabetes in the United States and 8.1 million who are undiagnosed. Diabetes puts you at a heightened risk of serious health issues such as:
- Kidney Failure
- Heart Disease
- Stroke
- Blindness
- Loss of legs, feet, or toes
7. As the 8th leading cause of death in the U.S., kidney disease is far more likely to develop in men than women. An astounding 9 out of 10 people who have chronic kidney disease do not know it. Kidney disease greatly increases your risk of heart attack, stroke, and cardiovascular disease.
8. Are you aware that 1 in 20 men will be at risk of developing colorectal cancer? According to the American Cancer Society, there will be an estimated 93,090 new cases of colon cancer and 39,610 new cases of rectal cancer within 2015. As the 3rd leading cause of cancer-related death in men, there are expected to be about 49,700 deaths due to colorectal cancer in 2015.
9. Roughly 8,430 cases of testicular cancer will be diagnosed in 2015. Testicular cancer is a disease common to young, middle-aged men. Though testicular cancer is not very prevalent, approximately 380 men will die of this condition in 2015.
10. Did you know men are 30 percent more likely to die from pneumonia than women? Ranked together, pneumonia and influenza are the eighth leading cause of death in the United States. The people considered to be at high risk of pneumonia include:
- The elderly (over 65 years of age)
- The very young
- Those with diabetes, congestive heart failure, chronic pulmonary disease, and sickle cell anemia.
It’s Time to Have Your Man Take Charge of His Health!
Following through with a routine checkup every 12 months is a necessity for both men and women. Regular health exams can help discover the problems before they have a chance to develop into something more serious. In addition to the diagnosis, early detection provides the opportunity for better treatment and a cure. Have your loved one reach out to your primary care doctor or schedule an appointment with one of UnityPoint Health - Fort Dodge’s expert primary care providers, today!