Men tend to work hard, lead unhealthy lifestyles, suffer more from cardiovascular disease, and ultimately live less than women. But about going to the doctor and taking tests, “they don’t even want to hear.”
On average, men live five years less than women, while they are more likely to suffer from more serious diseases and at the same time, according to experts, more often behave less consciously in relation to their health. Studies show that men do not visit the doctor as often as women and avoid preventive medical examinations. Today, on International Men’s Day, experts are calling men to action.
According to a study by the German Society for Men and Health (DGMG), 59% of women undergo preventive examinations, while among men this figure is only 22%. DGMG President Frank Sommer says that while men are traditionally reluctant to get tested, things are slowly changing in the new generation.
Serious and non-serious reasons for not wanting to see a doctor
There are many reasons for this “fear of doctors”. In a survey of 970 men, 78% said the reason was the long wait at the doctor’s office, says Sommer, professor of andrology at the University Hospital Hamburg-Eppendorf. About 1 in 4 is afraid of bad news, and one in five expresses concern about the possible painfulness of the test. Professor Sommer highlights the lack of information many men have about high risk factors such as high blood sugar and high lipid (cholesterol) levels.
However, the data speaks for itself. In the age group, especially those aged 40 to 60, men are significantly more likely to suffer from cardiovascular disease than women. “Sometimes five times more men than women in this age group suffer from sudden cardiac arrest,” Prof. Sommer notes. Cancer also strikes men more often when it is preceded by burnout.
Prevention is important, the professor emphasizes, citing erectile dysfunction and its causes as an example. If someone wants to find out the causes of “failure in bed”, then the doctor can detect malfunctions in the cardiovascular system. Impotence, in turn, may indicate a generalized vascular disease, which in a few years will cause a heart attack or stroke. Such a discovery can save a person’s life if he sees a doctor in time.
On the health of the “strong” sex
The German Society for Men’s Health warns that men need to be encouraged to take responsibility for their own health, to be aware of the risks and to lead a healthier lifestyle. Physical, psychological and social support is needed. According to the company, from lung cancer dies twice as many men as womenwhile Germany has the most high percentage of men suffering from depression.
62% of Germans are overweight, alcohol and drug use is much more common among men, and they drive more dangerously than women, they account for 75% of road traffic deaths. The traditional image of the invulnerable man, conditioned by social stereotypes, is another reason why men do not pay such close attention to their health. However, a representative of the German Society for Men’s Health reports that among young people, the percentage of health awareness has recently been growing.
However, the question remains: why do men have a shorter life expectancy?
Many theories have been put forward, some of which are related to genetics, while others are related to exogenous factors, explains professor of andrology Sommer. In terms of genetics: every woman has two X chromosomes, and every man has an X chromosome and a Y chromosome, which encoded much less genetic information than the X chromosome. Result: If the X chromosome is damaged, the Y chromosome cannot take over all the information. “We men are really the weaker sex in terms of health,” admits Professor Sommer.
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