Men’s Health Issues: A Global Concern

Biological make–up and different character traits spell the difference between men and women. As although men tend to have more physical endurance and capacity than women, men have the tendency to neglect their bodies and consequently, their health. The male-female life expectancy gap may have decreased, but it is still a fact that men need to pay more attention to their health. Men are often at a disadvantage in some respects regarding health issues. Men are more inclined to smoke and drink than women. They tend to be more prone to work related stress as they often define themselves by their careers. nnMen’s health issues are a global concern, and with the male to female ratio of 1:10, the male population is apparently lagging behind. Men’s health issues such as heart diseases, STD, erectile dysfunction, obesity, diabetes, prostate and colon cancer to name a few are rising to an alarming rate as men are becoming negligent of their health and are oftentimes more reluctant to seek medical advice. One of the common men’s health issues is prostate cancer. This disease is a common word of mouth among men as it is becoming prevalent. Studies on men’s health issues have once concluded that lean men are more inclined to develop prostate cancer than obese men. nnBut recent researches found the contrary as it was later discovered that obesity can increase the risk of prostate cancer. Prostate cancer is harder to detect in the initial stages among obese men until the disease becomes chronic and combative measures may be inefficient in the end. The best recourse for prostate cancer is still prevention entailed by an obliging diet and a healthy lifestyle. STD’s and HIV/AIDS are also two of the most alarming men’s health issues. As some men tend to have multiple sexual partners without the use of condoms, men are generally at risk for sexually transmitted diseases such as gonorrhea, herpes, syphilis and HIV/AIDS. nnMen’s health issues on STD are becoming a major concern with the HIV/AIDS-afflicted percentage on the rise. Obesity is also one of the widespread men’s health issues. Generally preoccupied with work and wedged to a sedentary lifestyle aggravated by smoking and drinking, men are also prone to obesity. As obesity consequently leads to other inauspicious health conditions such as heart diseases and diabetes, obesity is one of the men’s health issues that should not be neglected. Posing men at a higher risk for heart failure, preventive and combative means must be undertaken for obesity. Erectile dysfunction is also one of the most covered men’s health issues. nnAlso known as impotence, erectile dysfunction can cause so much frustration not only in sexual performance but in procreation as well. Erectile dysfunction as one of the men’s health issues may have physiological or psychological causes or can be a manifestation of other health conditions such as diabetes. With the social and cultural expectation of men being breadwinners and having complete responsibility over their families as well as keeping up with expectations for masculinity, men are more prone to stress and to engage in unhealthy lifestyles. Men’s health issues are concerns that men themselves should have the initiative to pay attention to. nnWith the significant imbalance on male-female ratio, it is no doubt that men’s health issues are becoming a major concern. Men’s health issues should be addressed to so as not to further deplete the male population. We all take measures to preserve diminishing flora and fauna. What more of the male species of the human race?