Men’s Health: Come on guys, we can do better!

Men rarely talk about their health concerns.

We know that in Can ada less than 50% of men have a family doctor and fewer yet actually visit their family doctor on a regular basis. There have been some sexist comments relating to this fact, implying that women over utilize the health system in Canada while men don't. Actually the reverse is much more likely the case. Women seem to use the health system more effectively and appropriately while men tend to under utilize the health system and to their detriment. This may help explain at least some of the reason for the 4 year difference in life expectancy between women and men in Canada. For women life expectancy is 84.1 years while men it is 80.4 years (World Health Expectancy, 2022). However, this doesn't take into account the HeAlthy Life Expectancy or HALE. HALE is the average number of years that a person can expect to live in full health, meaning not hampered by a disabling illness or injury. For men in Canada that number is 70.1 years! That means that for the last decade of a man's life he can, on average, be expected to live it with a disabling illness or injury! Not only do men die earlier than women, their last 10 years of life are often not a picture of healthy enjoyment of life. From 70 years of age to 80 years of age most of us will not be living "our best lives". This is why scientists and doctors are now starting to talk more about our healthspans and moving away from talking just about lifespans. After all who wants an extended lifespan if you are going to be living in misery for those last 10 years.

We need to find better ways to narrow this gap between our healthy life expectancy and our life expectancy. While we continue to push for the extension of life through various medical, social, genetic and public health initiatives we must at the same time try to drag this concept of a healthy life expectancy along with it or preferentially help to narrow the gap!

This is particularly difficult in a health system, like the one in Canada, that is disease and symptom focused and not preventative focused. Compounding the problem is the realization that at least 1/4 to 1/3 of all deaths in men are considered “avoidable mortality” by the organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). Avoidable deaths are deaths that occur to people under 75 years of age and are considered preventable.

They are considered preventable as they are deaths related to lifestyle or behaviour.

As men we can and must do better. Thankfully there are many easy ways to do this.

Stop smoking.

Doesn't matter if it is cannabis or cigarettes or cigars or vaping. About 20% of Canadian men still smoke cigarettes. Smoking remains a significant killer or men. Men smoke more than women. Smoking kills, we all know this but continue to do this regardless and don't tell me that your grandmother smoked into her 80's. Your grandmother was not representative of all smokers.

Drink less booze.

Over 35% of Canadian men have unhealthy alcohol consumption. Alcohol is a poison to the human body and although it may taste delicious there is a significant downside to its consumption. Unfortunately the more you drink daily or binge drink the more you are poisoning your body. There really is no truly safe amount. We have known this for years. But rather than give up your beer at the end of a hard day, try to restrict your drinking to no more than 2 standardized drinks per day or 14 per week. That's a good start.

If you don't move it . . . you lose it.

Over 45% of Canadian men do not get 150 minutes of moderate to strenuous exercise a week. Try to exercise 30 minutes a day. More is even better but incremental increases in your amount of exercise is a start and is better than nothing at all. Don't be a couch potato.

Get more rack time.

Sleep is our restorative cycle. Try to consistently sleep 6 to 8 hours a night. Some men need more, some need less. Most need at least this amount. This will allow you a to recover from the mental and physical stress of the day and repair your body while you catch some zzzz's.

Eat less shit.

We all know that we can eat better. Over 60% of Canadian men have an unhealthy diet. A healthier diet means eating more vegetables and fruits, more seafood and less fat, sugar and meat. There is a reason that "the Mediterranean diet" tops the list as one of the best diets for longevity and simplicity almost every year. It is because it follows those approaches listed above. This may also be an indicator about why at least 2 of the world's Blue Zones are located in the Mediterranean area. Blue Zones are zones in which people have a tendency to live much longer and healthier than most other places on Earth. They are the places in the world that have the highest number of people who live into their 100's. So they must be doing something right. Right?!

Men must take the example from women and become better advocates of their own health. We must use the medical system to facilitate improvement in caring for ourselves.

We must be proactive in our approach to our healthcare needs. That means learning to dispense with the behaviours that are shortening out lives and embrace those behaviours that will lengthen them. We must look to conventional and complementary medicine to find options that will help. We must be better at discussion our health needs with our families, friend and healthcare providers.

In summary we need to take control of and be responsible for our bodies and our health. It is only through doing this that we will be better able to enjoy our journey of both increased lifespan and healthspan.