Men's health troubles can be unique to their gender, such as erectile dysfunction, prostate and testicular cancer, and those that also strike women but affect men more, such as heart disease, stroke, lung cancer, accidents and suicide. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, women on average outlive men by about five years. 1. Heart Disease and Stroke. Heart disease is the number one killer of men, who are at superior risk of suffering from the illness than women (see Reference 1). But they can work to stop heart disease by consuming a diet low in saturated fat, including at least two and a half hours of exercise a week, avoiding smoking, limiting alcohol intake, and controlling blood pressure and cholesterol levels. 2. Cancer. Lung cancer is the number-one killer of men, and, consequently, stopping smoking is the most excellent way to put off getting the disease. Prostate cancer is the second-leading type of the disease in men, so having a regular prostate exam and prostate screening tests are recommended. Testicular cancer is a leading cancer in boys and young men, who should learn to perform testicular self exams. In addition, men and boys who work or play in the sun should wear sunscreen and clothing that covers their arms and legs to prevent skin cancer. 3. Accidents. Men are more likely to be wounded in an accident and are twice as likely as women to suffer a traumatic brain injury. In addition, they are 12 times more likely than women to suffer a workplace injury, and male high school students are less likely to wear seat belts than their female counterparts. Accordingly, males should never drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs, wear a helmet and make safety a priority in the workplace. 4. Sexually Transmitted Disease. Painful urination, such as the feeling that you are urinating glass can be a sign of gonorrhea, which can increase the likelihood of developing HIV (see References 1). Chlamydia is also common, and men may transmit it without symptoms, causing pelvic inflammatory disease and infertility (see References 2). Get tested, know your HIV status, and share those results with your partner.
