Men’s Health — Time to Change Our Approach

Abstract

Significant gender disparities exist in life expectancy (the average life expectancy of men is 5.0–7.2 years less than that of women) and major disease morbidity. There is an urgent need to understand the major issues related to men’s health that contribute to these significant disparities. Men have a higher death rate from 14 of the 15 leading causes of death (all except Alzheimer’s disease). They have a nearly threefold higher rate of death from bladder cancer and twice as high a rate of death from kidney cancer than women. For all cancers except non-melanoma skin cancer, breast cancer and the sex-specific cancers, men also have a higher rate of incidence and death when considering all ages. The International Society of Men’s Health (ISMH) believes that raising awareness of prostate health – prostate disease as well as testosterone and hypogonadism – will empower and motivate men to consult their physician. It will also be a promoter and catalyst for detecting many other existing or underlying conditions and comorbidities. The most important goals are to empower men to manage their own health and to talk about worries regarding their health.