Top 5 reasons why men live shorter than women

The causes outlined below are completely controllable, helping you avoid joining this scary statistic.

Smoke

Smoking rates are falling rapidly, but more men still smoke than women.

According to the World Health Organization, up to 40% of men but only 9% of women smoke.

There’s no secret that smoking is bad for your health, says Jessica Cook, an assistant professor at the Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health. In fact, smoking can take 15 years off a smoker’s life.

The good news is that simply quitting smoking can greatly reduce this risk.

Drink alcohol

According to the CDC, men are five times more likely to drink alcohol than women in just two hours.

Drunk driving rates are also twice as high as for women, putting them at greater risk of alcohol-related deaths and hospitalizations.

Heavy drinking also increases the risk of cancers of the mouth, throat, liver and bowel.

The best way is to control your alcohol intake. You should only drink a maximum of 2 small glasses of wine or 1 large beer per day.

Afraid to see a doctor

Men have a reputation for being “afraid” of doctors. In fact, nearly a quarter of young men never visit a doctor each year.

The top reasons they gave were being too busy, feeling embarrassed to go for a check-up, and fearing the doctor might find something wrong.

However, regular check-ups can help detect and treat more serious problems before they develop, such as diabetes or high blood pressure. Early detection can help prevent the disease from progressing and causing complications.

In addition, regular check-ups will help screen for colon and prostate cancer...

Go for a checkup on the weekend if you are busy and don't be shy!

Tensions rise

According to a survey by the American Psychological Institute, nearly one-third of men said they felt more stressed every year.

Additionally, men are less likely than women to report that stress is having a significant impact on their health.

But that’s a fatal mistake. When you work non-stop, your body pumps out stress hormones like adrenaline and cortisol. Too much of these hormones can cause blood pressure and cholesterol to spike, putting you at risk of coronary heart disease, heart attack, and sudden stroke.

Additionally, according to John Higgins, a cardiologist in Texas, persistently high cortisol levels increase the risk of stroke, heart attack, and heart failure.

So if you want to live a long, healthy life, start by fighting stress.

Don't share your worries.

According to the CDC, nearly 80% of suicides are male, making it the 7th leading cause of death among men.

One of the underlying factors is that men tend to avoid talking about anxiety and depression – one of the culprits that causes men to commit suicide – because they believe they can solve the problem themselves. Meanwhile, if they have support from experts, they will get out of the problem faster.

Make an appointment with your doctor if you have signs of depression, anxiety... for counseling or medication.