Despite the fact that many men consider diabetes a relatively harmless problem it claims the lives of around 30,000 men a year in the United States alone. Diabetes needs to be considered a chronic disease which in its advanced stage can cause blindness, kidney disease and severe nerve damage. As the rate of obesity increases so does the rate of diabetes. Moreover, if you have a parent who developed diabetes in adulthood, your chances of developing the condition are 50 per cent higher. A good diet, plenty of exercise and control of weight all help.
Suggested Screening
Mental Health
The term mental health is perhaps over inclusive in the sense that so many different categories fall under it. In terms of priorities it is perhaps fair to elevate threat to life as the number one issue. In this case the number of male suicides per year provides a direct reflection of problems such as depression. Other factors include a family history of suicide attempt, substance abuse disorders, social adjustment problems, loneliness, grief, divorce and unemployment. Men are four times more likely to kill themselves than women.
Accidents
Men are risk takers. They often don't pay attention to their bodies and find themselves falling to sleep behind the wheel of a car or driving too fast only to end up as a mortality statistic (30,000 in 1998). Men get on motorcycles to recapture their youth, they play risky sports some of which involve high levels of physical contact. They get into fights. They don't take proper safety precautions when climbing ladders or using power tools for example. Not all men of course - but enough to account for thousands of deaths a year, most of which were entirely preventable.
In summary
Many other health issues such as liver disease, sexually transmitted diseases, sexual dysfunction and so on have not been listed on this article but are, or will be, the focus of attention on the men's health site. Men's health is not all doom and gloom and it is important to understand that we will also be celebrating the many achievements and positive contributions men make in terms of their overall health, fitness and general wellbeing.