ACT TO IMPROVE MEN'S HEALTH

ACT TO IMPROVE MEN'S HEALTH

Prevention is the key to improving men's health, generally in poorer health than women. But in addition to individual lifestyle habits, the essential is above all social, says Alain Vadeboncœur. Men are not as healthy as women and therefore die more at almost every age in life. So it's a real public health problem. So, how to act to improve things? And why is it rather difficult?

When looking at the data available on this Ministry of Health website, men generally perceive themselves to be healthier than women, especially those aged 25 to 44 and over 65 years of age. We will admit that it’s paradoxical since they often die younger and are always more at risk, especially when it comes to accidents, suicides or cardiovascular diseases.

We understand that the first condition for asking for help is to recognize the existence of a problem. And if men consulted less - or too late - because they do not see themselves as they are, despite all the medical conditions (or social, in some cases) that reach them more? It is all the more unfortunate that in many cases, these problems respond to one form or another of prevention.

Let's concentrate on the first possibility, the reduction of mortality or the improvement of longevity, which is a bit like the same thing.

Male Prevention
Is there specifically male prevention? Not really. Most prevention approaches work for both men and women. So what should be done to improve health with as much impact as possible? As it is about men's health, we can analyze the main causes of premature death. Let's take a closer look at the issue from the perspective of what is called potential years of life lost.

These problems cause either a number of deaths among young men (because of the many years that normally remain to live) or a large number of deaths of older men. In the case of deaths among our youth, the prevention of road accidents, suicides and other accidental causes of death remains the priority.

Good news, prevention, including regulation and public campaigns, works well in these areas. In fact, there has been a marked decrease in fatal road accidents since the 1970s, notably because of the compulsory use of the belt, speed limits, the reduction in drinking and driving and the campaigns to reduce dangerous behaviors.

Similarly, suicide awareness and prevention campaigns have led to a significant improvement. Finally, as men are more likely to suffer serious consequences of work-related accidents, prevention remains an important public health issue.

Prevent Blockages
Circulatory diseases are another prime target for reducing the mortality gap between men and women. It is indeed the second cause in terms of potential years of life lost. Not so much because these diseases (vascular blockages causing infarction and stroke) strike the youngest, but because they affect many at the half-time of life.

These widespread problems are related to a well-known major risk factor, smoking. Men smoking more than women, so they are more affected by its direct consequences.

Controlling more tobacco use to possibly reach levels of smoking compared to those of Australia (13%) rather than our 20%, it is not only possible but perfectly possible.

For cardiovascular diseases, we also know, of course, that genetic predispositions count for a lot. You cannot change your genes yet, although the beginnings of gene therapies are starting to emerge for very sharp health problems. But the good news is that being a carrier of potentially harmful genes is one thing, while the expression of these genes is another.

If a harmful gene can express itself to varying degrees, one can indeed work to inhibit its concrete manifestations. And we understand more and more that this modulation is not only possible but that the methods are known, effective and inexpensive: it is to apply the recognized principles of prevention.

Exercise And Diet
While men are already doing a little more regular exercise than women, perhaps the potential gains would be even more important in the diet, where the male portrait is less glowing.

We know that men eat fewer home-cooked meals and fruits and vegetables than women, consume more prepared meals, so rich in salt, sugar, and fat. Let's forget about the all-too-famous (and overused) super-foods like turmeric, black radish, and blueberries.

What is important is to change the basics of nutrition and to improve it steadily. Learning to cook, especially for older men who find themselves alone, is just as important. But we must also work to democratize and facilitate access to fruits and vegetables, which are often too expensive.

Lastly, beyond individual lifestyle habits, most prevention is above all social. It is through improved redistribution, the quality of social support, access to work and a decent income, better housing policies and improved education that we can first and foremost obtain convincing results to improve health.

Copyright 2019