How Men (and Women) Can Live Longer
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By Dr. Reinier Ramirez
The pandemic resulted
in many unfortunate outcomes, one of which was a drop in the average life
expectancy for men. The number, at 76.1 years, was the lowest since 1996.
While COVID-19 accounted
for nearly 74% of the decline of life expectancy in
2019 to 2020, it was not the leading cause of death for men. That distinction
falls on conditions that have been prevalent for decades:
·
Heart disease: Since
1950, heart disease has consistently been the leading cause of death in the U.S
for both men and women.
·
Cancer: Cancer-related
deaths are higher for men than women, mainly from
lung, prostate, pancreatic and colon cancer.
·
Stroke: Strokes and
stroke deaths tend to affect women more than men. However, more than 62% of
these deaths are for people 65 and over.
·
Obesity: Obesity is
closely related to an increased risk of severe outcomes from heart disease and
cancer, further complicating the health landscape.
There is some good
news. If men act immediately, it’s not too late to improve their health, as
well as their life expectancy. Some simple steps can help reduce the risk of
death from all the above conditions (and more):
·
Quit smoking: Tobacco
use is associated with a higher risk of heart disease and many other diseases.
·
Eat healthily: Diets
should include more fruit, vegetables, fiber and
fish. Cut back on saturated fats and red meat.
·
Get moving: Increase
your heart rate with 30 minutes of exercise five times a week.
·
Watch your weight: Inflammation
caused by extra weight is associated with bad health.
·
Monitor (and manage,
if necessary) the measurables: Cholesterol and blood pressure are easy to
track.
·
Drink less alcohol:
High consumption has been linked to colon and rectal cancer, among other
diseases.
The best advice? Go to the doctor for regular checkups and
screening tests. Many diseases can be treated if caught early. In addition, physicians partner with patients to create an action
plan focused on better overall health and wellness.
COVID-19 offered a good lesson for men that can be applied to overall
longevity – researchers believe one of the reasons COVID-19 caused men to get
sicker and die often more than women was compliance. Simply put, women were
found to be more willing to follow public policy measures, such as mask-wearing
and social distancing, than men. No surprise, women are also more likely to get
regular health screenings and actually listen to the expert advice of
physicians.
In 2024, many people have backed off COVID-19 precautions, but
they are still important to you. Most deaths from the disease are in people 65
and over, with the highest mortality rate from the disease in adults aged 85
and over.
Another factor that impacts longevity is accidents. While
“unintentional injuries,” like car accidents, drug overdoses and drownings, are
a more common cause of death for people under the age of 45, falls and
accidental overdoses are more common for older people.
Some of the same recommendations for reducing risk for other
diseases apply for reducing the risk of accidents:
·
Improve strength,
balance and coordination with exercise to reduce the risk of falling.
·
Drink less, as alcohol
contributes to approximately 40% of residential fire deaths. It can also lead
to falls and motor vehicle crashes.
·
Get your eyes checked
once per year to reduce your risk of falls and vehicular accidents.
·
Improve lighting for
easier navigation to reduce the risk of falls.
·
Reduce your risk of
residential fire death by installing smoke alarms and testing the devices once
per month.
·
Review medications
with your healthcare provider. Make sure you understand what drugs can and
cannot be mixed with your medications.
Men’s Health Month was started in 1994 to increase awareness of
the importance of early detection and treatment of diseases and conditions in
men. Despite that added attention, many health problems among men have become
worse!
Become aware of the risks and what you can do to reduce them. Life
is worth defying the odds.
About the Author
Reinier Ramirez, MD is a family care provider and the Medical
Director of Adult Medicine at Healthcare Network, a nonprofit with a mission to
provide quality healthcare accessible to everyone, regardless of job, income,
or insurance. Visit HealthcareSWFL.org for more information.
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