This blog is part of a monthly series on health-related topics from a collaboration between Pima County Public Library and Pima County Health Department.
Please note, you can enlarge the images below by clicking on them.
Men are often historically pressured to be strong, to ignore pain, to keep working and not show weakness so they can provide for their family. "Be a man,” “Boys don't cry,” “Take it like a man,” “Walk it off,” “Soldier on.” Men are told they should always be there to protect and take care of their families. But what about your own health?
In reality, men have shorter lifespans than women by about five years. What causes this huge gap? While there are biological reasons for the difference in average lifespan, there are also several social factors that contribute to earlier deaths. For instance, masculine gender norms like “toughness” have been found in several studies to be associated with worse mental health outcomes (The Lancet). Additionally, men are more likely than women to suffer from issues like:
- Heart Disease
- Diabetes
- Suicide
- Accidental Injuries (especially for men under 45)
- Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease
Some of these issues are worse in Arizona. For instance, diabetes rates among Arizonan men are higher than the national average. Even more concerning is that suicide and self-inflicted injury rates among men in Arizona are above the US rate and rising (NIMHD)! This June for Men’s Health Month, we want to share a few issues that men should be aware of to make sure they have the tools and knowledge they need to protect their own health.
Substance Use
According to the National Institute on Alcohol Use and Alcoholism, in 2023, men were more likely to drink alcohol than women (respectively, 86.6% and 83.3%). Men are significantly more likely to suffer from chronic liver diseases than women, which is likely, at least in part, due to the differences in alcohol consumption.
Historically, men have consistently been more likely to smoke cigarettes than women (NCI). The CDC also found that men were more likely than women to use any tobacco product (24.1% compared to 13.6% respectively). Some newer commercial products entering the market target men in their marketing strategies (see images below), often with detrimental consequences. For instance, nicotine pouches like Zyn are more heavily used among young men compared to other groups, likely due to these marketing tactics.
Suicide and Mental Health
Men often experience pressures to remain stoic in the face of hardship. Men exposed to harmful forms of masculinity from an early age tend to experience difficulty processing emotional and mental challenges. They may often experience anger rather than sadness in response to stressors such as divorce, unemployment and life changes (NIH, opens a new window). These factors among others have been found to increase suicide risk in men, opens a new window.
Health Seeking Behavior
Men visit the doctor less frequently than women (CDC). In a recent national survey conducted by Cleveland Clinic, men were found to show low interest in visiting the doctor and only half of the participants identified that they engage in preventative care. They also found that about 1 out of 5 men reported not having been completely honest with their doctor in the past, reporting that they were embarrassed, did not want to hear that they needed to change their lifestyle, or knew something was wrong but were not ready to face the diagnosis. It is vitally important to visit the doctor for annual checkups and health screening to prevent illness and chronic disease. Consider your own motivators to visit the doctor to keep yourself healthy and strong for yourself and your family.
Cancer
The two leading causes of cancer-related death among men in Pima County, are prostate and skin cancer, followed by lung and colorectal cancers. Prostate cancer is the second most common cancer in the USA after breast cancer among women, and it only affects men. The American Cancer Society states that about 1 in 8 men will get prostate cancer in their lifetime. Men had higher rates of dying from lung cancer than women. Another cancer unique to men which often impacts those aged 15-35 is testicular cancer, though its rates are much lower. Finally, colorectal cancer is the fourth most common cancer in Arizona and the rates are rising, affecting about 1 in 24 men.
The good news is that with regular screenings and implementing steps of prevention, the chances of developing cancer are significantly reduced. It is important to talk to your doctor about your family history and risk of different cancers and complete recommended cancer screenings.
What is Problematic About Saying “Be a Man”?
Gender is a term used to describe the socially constructed characteristics of women, men, girls and boys, including their expected norms, behaviors and roles, like “be a man”. These characteristics can change from one culture to the next as well as over time. It has been found that certain harmful gender norms, especially those related to rigid notions of masculinity, can affect boys and men’s health and wellbeing negatively. These norms can include pressure for boys and men to smoke, drink alcohol and use drugs, take sexual and other health risks, engage in violent activities, and not seek help or healthcare services (WHO). Considering all of this, does it still make sense to ask men to be strong and soldier on? We hope that after reading all of this, you might say no.
So, What Can You Do to Protect Your Health?
While things may seem bleak for men after reading all of this, the good news is that men can make just a few simple small changes to their day-to-day life to make significant health improvements!
Heart Disease
- Visit any PCHD clinic for a blood pressure check, or even check out a monitor from your local library.
- Check out MyPlate to help guide you towards healthy eating habits.
- Get active today (even 10 minutes helps) with a short walk or affordable exercise programs like the Active Adult Programs through Pima County’s Community Centers.
Quitting Commercial Tobacco
- For help quitting tobacco, call ASHLine at 1-800-55-66-222. You can also follow-up with your primary care provider to discuss screening options. More information can be found on the Pima County Health Department Website.
Liver Disease
- Complete a free liver scan to know your risk today!
Mental Health
If you or someone you know is experiencing:
- Suicidal thoughts? Call 988
- A mental health crisis? Call Tucson’s Local Crisis Line at 520-622-6000
- More resources at: https://www.pima.gov/192/Community-Mental-Health-Addiction-CMHA
Prostate and Testicular Cancer
- Schedule annual check-ups with your primary care provider to discuss your risk for cancers like prostate, testicular and colorectal cancer and opportunities for screening/testing.
How Can We Celebrate Men’s Health Awareness Month?
- Schedule a checkup with your doctor and urge other men in your life to do the same.
- Join a men’s group like Boys to Men Tucson or talk with a trusted friend or family member to practice and improve communications skills and improve your mental health.
- Join your friends in an activity like hiking, golfing, walking, or pickleball.
- Wear blue to bring awareness to men’s health this month. June is Men’s Health Month!
- Share information you have learned from this blog with your community by talking about it or sharing on social media this month!
Take care of yourself to be there for your family!
Want to learn more?
In addition to recognizing Fathers on Father's Day, June also brings awareness to Men's Health. We encourage all men and anyone with a male loved one to encourage him to take better care of himself. In addition to suggesting visiting a health care practitioner, the library has these books available to help promote better Men's Health Month.
This blog post is by by the Tobacco and Chronic Disease Prevention Team at the Pima County Health Department. The mission of the Chronic Disease Prevention Program is to develop partnerships and collaborations to promote a comprehensive approach to address tobacco and chronic disease.
To learn more, visit: Men's Health | Pima County, AZ
List of image sources for this blog:
- Men's Health Month – Celebrated Each June, opens a new window
- Nicotine Pouch Marketing Examples | Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, opens a new window
- What is ZYN - Smoke-free, tobacco-free nicotine pouches, opens a new window
- 9 of the Strategies Big Tobacco Uses to Target Kids | American Lung Association, opens a new window
- Latino Men Less Likely to Go to the Doctor - Tu Salud, opens a new window
