The Leading Causes of Death in Men

Statistically, men have shorter lifespans than women. Interestingly, more than 70% of male deaths are caused by the same things. Although some causes are genetic and unavoidable, many of them can be avoided by making the right lifestyle choices.

Here are some of the top causes of death in males in the United States, and what you can do to protect yourself.

Accidents

Many accidents occur due to unforeseen circumstances and plain bad luck. However, in just as many situations, precautions could have avoided the accident from happening.

Take measures such as wearing your seatbelt in case you get into a car accident. Drivers are up to 80% more likely to survive in a vehicle collision if they wear their seatbelt.

If you work in a risk environment, you should wear proper safety gear and carefully follow all safety guidelines.

Heart Disease

Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States in both males and females. This condition is a result of blocked arteries that have become hardened and are no longer able to supply blood to the heart.

Men usually develop heart disease much sooner than women and therefore more likely to die younger. By eating a low cholesterol diet rich in fiber and nutrients, you can lower your chances of a heart attack.

Drink in moderation, quit smoking, try to keep your blood sugar levels in check, and regularly take an artery test at home.

Cancer

Hundreds of thousands of men die of cancer every year. Even though there are some people that never smoke a day in their lives and develop lung cancer, you will decrease your chances by quitting smoking.

Cancer isn’t limited to lung cancer. Some of the more common types of cancer include prostate cancer, testicular cancer, and colorectal cancer. Early detection is the best way to protect yourself against cancer.

Stroke

A stroke happens when either a blood clot or broken blood vessel interrupts blood flow to the brain. In some cases, permanent brain damage occurs, and the victim may lose a variety of abilities from movement to speech. At least 700,000 people suffer a stroke every year in the USA each year, with at least 150,000 resulting in fatality.

Suicide

Depression is likelier in men since men are less likely to seek help. Sadly, as a result, they turn to suicide rather than reaching out for treatment and support.

If you or someone you know is exhibiting signs of depression, let them know that they’re not alone and you can support partners with depression.

The best way to protect yourself against early death is to make healthy lifestyle choices and to improve your quality of life.

Attending regular doctors appointments for screenings and being in touch with your body will help you catch symptoms early on. In many cases, a simple trip to the doctor could have avoided a fatal condition by catching it sooner.