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JUNE13-19, 2005 IS MEN'S
HEALTH WEEK |
| Men make up 49.1% of the United States
population, according to the National Center for Health Statistics.
The purpose of Men's Health Week is to heighten the awareness of
preventable health problems and encourage early detection and
treatment of disease among men and boys. |
| Compared with women, men have higher death
rates for the leading causes of death (see Table 1).
Men have unique health challenges. For example, |
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Men tend to smoke and drink more than
women and generally have less healthy lifestyles. |
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Men do not seek medical help as
often as women. |
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Men tend to join in fearless, risky,
dangerous behaviors more than women. |
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Men are significantly less likely than
women to recognize the health benefits of fruits and vegetables,
such as their role in reducing the risk of many cancers, heart
disease, high blood pressure, and diabetes. |
| The good news is that many of the major
health risks that men face can be prevented and treated if they are
diagnosed early. |
| Racial and ethnic minority men, especially
African Americans, are even more at-risk for dying from certain
causes, including injuries, chronic diseases, and infectious
illnesses. |
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TABLE 1: Age-adjusted deaths per 100,000
population for the leading causes of death, United States: 2002 |
Leading Causes of Death
for Men |
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Leading Causes of Death
for Women |
| All Causes |
1013.7 |
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All Causes |
715.2 |
| 1. Heart Disease |
297.4 |
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1. Heart Disease |
197.2 |
| 2. Cancer |
238.9 |
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2. Cancer |
163.1 |
| 3. Stroke |
56.5 |
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3. Stroke |
55.2 |
| 4. Chronic lower
respiratory disease |
53.5 |
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4. Chronic lower
respiratory disease |
37.4 |
| 5. Unintentional injuries |
51.5 |
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5. Unintentional injuries |
23.5 |
| 6. Diabetes |
28.6 |
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6. Diabetes |
23.0 |
| 7. Influenza & pneumonia |
27.0 |
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7. Influenza & pneumonia |
19.9 |
| 8. Suicide |
18.4 |
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8. Chronic liver disease &
cirrhosis |
6.3 |
| 9. Chronic liver disease &
cirrhosis |
12.9 |
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9. Suicide |
4.2 |
| 10. Homicide |
9.4 |
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10. Homicide |
2.8 |
| 11. HIV/AIDS |
7.4 |
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11. HIV/AIDS |
2.5 |
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| Source: NCHS, Health US,
2004,
table 29 |
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EXAMPLES OF HEALTH DISPARITIES |
| In 2002, |
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The life expectancy for males at birth was
5.4 years shorter than for females (male: 74.5; female: 79.9 years). |
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The all-causes death rate for males was
1.4 times higher for men than for women (men: 1013.7 per 100,000;
women: 715.2). |
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Men had a cardiovascular disease (CVD)
death rate that was 1.5 times higher than women (men: 297.4 per
100,000; women: 197.2). |
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The HIV/AIDS death rate was 3.0 times
higher for men than for women (men: 7.4 per 100,000; women: 2.5). |
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Men had a total cancer death rate that was
1.5 times higher than women (men: 238.9 per 100,000; women: 163.1). |
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Men had a lung cancer death rate that was 1.8 times
higher than women (men: 73.2 per 100,000; women: 41.6.) |
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Men had a colorectal cancer death rate that was 1.4
times higher than women (men: 23.7 per 100,000; women: 16.7). |
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Men were 4.4 times more likely to die from
suicide as women (men: 18.4 per 100,000; women: 4.2). |
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Men were 2.2 times more likely to die from
unintentional injuries than women (men: 51.6 per 100,000; women:
23.5). |
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Men were 2.3 times more likely to die from
motor vehicle injuries than women (men: 22.1 per 100,000; women:
9.6). |
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| EXAMPLES OF
IMPORTANT DISPARITIES BY RACE & ETHNICITY |
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In 2002, African American men had the
highest all-causes death rate of all races/ethnicities and both
genders (1341.1 per 100,000); Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI)
men (578.4 per 100,000) had the lowest all-causes death rate. In
addition, African American males had the shortest life expectancy at
birth (68.8 years) compared to males of all races (74.5 years) and
African American females (75.6 years). |
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African American men had the highest death
rate for all races/ethnicities and both genders for the following
causes (rates per 100,000 population): |
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CVD (African American men: 371.0; all
races/ethnicities men: 297.4) (2002), |
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HIV/AIDS (African American men: 35.0; all
races/ethnicities men: 7.9) (1999-2001), |
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Lung cancer (African American men: 95.0; all
races/ethnicities men: 73.2) (2002), |
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Colorectal cancer (African American men: 34.1; all
races/ethnicities men: 25.0) (1999-2001), |
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Prostate cancer (African American men: 62.0; all
races/ethnicities men: 27.9) (2002). |
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AI/AN men had the highest death
rates for all races/ethnicities and both genders for the following
causes (2002): |
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Unintentional injuries (AI/AN men: 73.7; all
races/ethnicities men: 51.6; AI/AN women: 35.3). |
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Motor vehicle injuries (AI/AN men: 37.4; all
races/ethnicities men: 22.2; AI/AN women: 19.3). |
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| FOR MORE INFORMATION |
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Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) |
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National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) |
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Office of Women’s Health (OWH) |
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National Women's Health Information Center (NWHIC) |
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What Do You Know About Men's Health? |
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Screening Tests and Immunizations Guidelines for Men |
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Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) |
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Men: Stay Healthy at Any Age |
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National Men’s Health Week |
