Could being a tough guy become a deadly mistake?<\/p>\n
Women live longer than men, all over the world. In the US<\/a>, men live around 76 years, while women live till 81.<\/p>\n Experts have been watching this trend for decades. Even as infectious disease has plummeted, other lethal health conditions like heart disease have affected men more than women.<\/p>\n So what\u2019s going on?<\/p>\n Men are more likely to be overweight and deal with heart disease compared to women. ximich_natali \u2013 stock.adobe.com<\/p>\n There used to be a belief that men died earlier but were generally healthier before their death. Women disproportionately have more non-lethal, chronic conditions like arthritis and depression.<\/p>\n But researchers found this isn\u2019t the case. It has more to do with pervasive, lifelong social and behavioral differences<\/a> between the genders.<\/p>\n \u201cIt is both biology and behavior. Men have biological vulnerabilities,\u201d Dr. David Shusterman<\/a>, board-certified urologist and founder of UroLongevity and Modern Urologist, told The Post. \u201cBut the bigger problem is that men tend to practice reactive medicine. They wait until something is obviously wrong.\u201d<\/p>\n Hey, guys \u2014 is it macho to stay sick?<\/p>\n An online survey from the Cleveland Clinic<\/a> showed 72% of men would rather do chores like cleaning the bathroom than go to the doctor. But why the reluctance?<\/p>\n Research shows<\/a> men are anxious about both the visit itself and about a potential diagnosis, and they\u2019d rather try home remedies or fix whatever appears to be the problem themselves first.<\/p>\n But perhaps most striking: They see health help as wimpy.<\/p>\n Men are also less likely to see their primary care doctor compared to women. Reese Coop\/peopleimages.com \u2013 stock.adobe.com<\/p>\n \u201cAs a man,\u00a0I sometimes feel that seeking healthcare is seen as a sign of weakness,\u00a0which makes me more skeptical and hesitant to go,\u201d a 49-year-old participant said.<\/p>\n As much as 41% of participants were told as children that men don\u2019t complain about health issues, according to the Cleveland Clinic survey.<\/p>\n This silly belief is so engrained that it has real consequences \u2014 including that men are more than 30% less likely<\/a> to get preventative care compared to women.<\/p>\n \u201cIgnoring symptoms is not toughness, it is delayed diagnosis.\u201d<\/p>\n Dr. David Shusterman<\/p>\n Man up and see a doc!<\/p>\n Men experience earlier cardiovascular risk, more visceral abdominal fat, metabolic decline and hormonal changes that can affect muscle, energy, sexual function and weight, Shusterman said. Those hormonal changes include a gradual decrease of testosterone production<\/a> starting at age 35.<\/p>\n But that doesn\u2019t tell the whole story. These problems may be common, but that doesn\u2019t mean you shouldn\u2019t do anything about it.<\/p>\n A habit Shusterman says frustrates him the most is that men \u201cnormalize\u201d problems that can be addressed.<\/p>\n \u201cThey say, \u2018I\u2019m just getting older<\/a>,\u201d he said. \u201cAging is real, but many of these changes are measurable and treatable.\u201d The best way to see if something is or isn\u2019t worth worrying about is to talk to your doctor.<\/p>\n For example, erectile dysfunction can be an early vascular warning sign; urinary problems can signal prostate enlargement or bladder dysfunction; fatigue can reflect sleep apnea, metabolic disease, low testosterone or cardiovascular risk.<\/p>\n \u201cIgnoring symptoms is not toughness, it is delayed diagnosis,\u201d he said. \u201cMy philosophy is that aging should be measured, understood and acted on early. Men fall behind when they ignore the early signals.\u201d<\/p>\n Dr. David Shusterman is a urologist in New York. Courtesy David Shusterman<\/p>\n Don\u2019t wait for wifey to step in<\/p>\n A big reason men die earlier than women is because they\u2019re less socially connected, according to a report from Harvard Medical School<\/a>. Loneliness and social isolation increase the risk of stroke, heart disease, diabetes, cognitive decline and premature death, according to the World Health Organization<\/a>.<\/p>\n Having a partner makes a big difference. \u201cA spouse or partner may notice changes that a man ignores,\u201d Shusterman said. \u201cPartners often push men to get evaluated.\u201d<\/p>\n