Men's health
Men's health is a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being, as experienced by men, and not merely the absence of disease.[1] Differences in men's health compared to women's can be attributed to biological factors, behavioural factors, and social factors (e.g., occupations).[2]
For the men's lifestyle magazine, see Men's Health.
Men's health often relates to biological factors such as the male reproductive system or to conditions caused by hormones specific to, or most notable in, males. Some conditions that affect both men and women, such as cancer, and injury, manifest differently in men.[3] Some diseases that affect both sexes are statistically more common in men. In terms of behavioural factors, men are more likely to make unhealthy or risky choices and less likely to seek medical care.
Men may face issues not directly related to their biology, such as gender-differentiated access to medical treatment and other socioeconomic factors.[4][5][6] Outside Sub-Saharan Africa, men are at greater risk of HIV/AIDS. This is associated with unsafe sexual activity that is often nonconsensual.[7][8]
Definition[edit]
Men's health refers to the state of physical, mental, and social well-being of men, and encompasses a wide range of issues that are unique to men or that affect men differently than women. This can include issues related to reproductive health, sexual health, cardiovascular health, mental health, and cancer prevention and treatment. Men's health also encompasses lifestyle factors such as diet, exercise, and stress management, as well as access to healthcare and preventative measures. [9]
Mental health[edit]
Stress[edit]
Although most stress symptoms are similar in men and women, stress can be experienced differently by men.[26] The American Psychological Association says that men are not as likely to report emotional and physical symptoms of stress compared to women.[26] They say men are more likely to withdraw socially when stressed and are more likely to report doing nothing to manage their stress.[26] Men are more likely than women to cite that work is a source of stress; women are more likely to report that money and the economy are a source of stress.[26]
Mental stress in men is associated with various complications which can affect men's health: high blood pressure and subsequent cardiovascular morbidity and mortality,[27] cardiovascular disease,[28] erectile dysfunction (impotence)[29] and possibly reduced fertility (due to reduced libido and frequency of intercourse).[30]
Fathers experience stress during the time shortly before and after the time of birth (perinatal period).[31] Stress levels tend to increase from the prenatal period up until the time of birth, and then decrease from the time of birth to the later postnatal period.[31] Factors which contribute to stress in fathers include negative feelings about the pregnancy, role restrictions related to becoming a father, fear of childbirth, and feelings of incompetence related to infant care.[31] This stress has a negative impact on fathers.[31] Higher levels of stress in fathers are associated with mental health issues such as anxiety, depression, psychological distress, and fatigue.[31]
Substance use disorders[edit]
Substance use disorder and alcohol use disorder can be defined as a pattern of harmful use of substance for mood-altering purposes.[32] Alcohol is one of the most commonly substances used in excess, and men are up to twice as likely to develop alcohol use disorder than women.[33] Gender differences in alcohol consumption remain universal, although the sizes of gender differences vary.[34] More drinking and heaving, binge drinking occurs in men, whereas more long-term abstention occurs in women.[34] Moreover, men are more likely to abuse substances such as drugs, with a lifetime prevalence of 11.5% in men compared to 6.4% in women, in the United States.[35] Additionally, males are more likely to be substance addicts and abuse substances due to peer pressure compared to females.[35]
The following is a list of diseases or conditions that have a high prevalence in men (relative to women).
Cardiovascular conditions:
Respiratory conditions:
Mental health conditions:
Cancer:
Sexual health:
Other:
Organisations[edit]
In the UK, the Men's Health Forum was founded in 1994. It was established originally by the Royal College of Nursing but became completely independent of the RCN when it was established as a charity in 2001.[75] The first National Men's Health Week was held in the US in 1994. The first UK week took place in 2002, and the event went international (International Men's Health Week) the following year.[76] In 2005, the world's first professor of men's health, Alan White, was appointed at Leeds Metropolitan University in north-east England.
In Australia, the Men's Health Information and Resource Centre advocates a salutogenic approach to male health which focuses on the causal factors behind health. The centre is led by John Macdonald and was established in 1999.[77] The Centre leads and executes Men's Health Week in Australia with core funding from the NSW Ministry of Health.
The Global Action on Men's Health (GAMH) was established in 2013 and was registered as a UK-based charity in May 2018. It is a collaborative initiative to bring together men's health organizations from across the globe into a new global network. GAMH is working at international and national levels to encourage international agencies (such as the World Health Organization) and individual governments to develop research, policies and strategies on men's health.[78]