THE 7-MOST COMMON KILLERS OF MEN AND HOW TO AVOID THEM

The average man is expected to die nearly 5 years earlier than the average woman, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The health of men remains a vital concern in our country, especially since many guys put their own wellbeing on the back burner. 

In fact, more than 1 in 5 guys have not seen any kind of health professional in over a year, a report from the National Center for Health Statistics found.

That’s one reason National Men’s Health Week was created: to raise awareness for the preventable health problems facing men, and to encourage them to seek medical care for them before it’s too late.

This year, we’re shining a spotlight on the 7 most common man-killers. Learn what can raise your risk and how to protect yourself from them—so you don’t become another statistic. 

Man-Killer #7: Suicide© Image by Shutterstock Suicide Rates Middle Age Men

Each year, over 33,000 men die from suicide each year, according to data from the CDC. This accounts for 2.5 percent of all deaths among men, making it the 7th leading cause.

What’s more, suicide actually ranks as the second most common cause of death for every age group for men 10 through 39, the data shows.

 “I think there’s a silent epidemic of male suicide,” says Mark Kaplan, Dr.P.H., a professor of social welfare at UCLA. “For as common as it is, you don’t hear many people talking about it.”

What Raises Your Risk

Losing your job or your girlfriend is a big factor. 

“In one of our studies, over 47 percent of men who committed suicide had a reported intimate partner problem,” Kaplan says. 

What’s more, men who commit suicide often suffer from “cognitive myopia”—or a feeling that they’re trapped by life’s circumstances, he says. 

“Suicide is often less about psychological issues like depression, and more about existential or life problems,” he adds.

Factors to Watch Out For

Proximity to guns can play a part, too. People with access to guns are three times more likely to commit suicide than those who don’t keep firearms around, according to a 2014 study. 

“There’s little doubt having a gun in your household increases the likelihood of it being used for suicide,” Kaplan says. 

Combining a lost job or other life crisis with alcohol and firearms is often a tragic recipe for men, he adds. 

How to Keep Yourself Safe 

“Men who are single or socially isolated are most vulnerable,” Kaplan says. 

In general, men tend to be more resistant than women are to seek mental health help. And that may explain why men die from suicide at more than three times the rate women do, according to the CDC. So if you’re thinking about suicide—or notice you’re drinking more than you used to cope with your problems—find someone to talk to, he advises. 

“It could be a partner or psychologist, or just your doctor,” he says. “Don’t keep what you’re feeling bottled up.” 

Man-Killer #6: Diabetes

Each year, more than 41,000 men die from diabetes, a condition that occurs when your body struggles to process or produce blood sugar. That accounts for 3.1 percent of all male deaths—making it the 6th leading cause of mortality for them.

And it seems like the problem is going to continue to persist. That’s because roughly 29 million Americans are currently diabetic. Rates of type 2 diabetes—the form of the disease that strikes 95 percent of sufferers—are at historically high levels, says David Ludwig, M.D., Ph.D., a professor of nutrition at Harvard Medical School. What’s more, fully 86 million people suffer from an early form of the disease known as “prediabetes,” according to the CDC.

What Raises Your Risk

One big factor—and one that’s completely in your control—is your diet. While your genes play a role, “food quality seems to matter a great deal,” Dr. Ludwig says. There’s still a lot of debate over the links between food and diabetes. But Dr. Ludwig (and many others who study the disease) says refined carbohydrates—things like sugar and sugary beverages, potato products like chips and fries, and processed grains—are almost certainly a big part of the problem. These foods cause a greater spike in your blood sugar level, which may play a role in the development of the disease.

Factors To Watch Out For

“Excessive thirst and excessive urination are classic symptoms of diabetes,” Dr. Ludwig says. Also, if you’re gaining weight, have a family history of diabetes, or are a member of an “at-risk population”—blacks, Hispanics, Native Americans—you should ask your doctor for a blood glucose test, he says. If two separate tests put your levels at or above 126 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL), you’re diabetic. Anything over 100 is considered prediabetes.

How to Keep Yourself Safe

Along with limiting refined carbs, “eating healthy, high-fat foods tends to be great for diabetes prevention,” Dr. Ludwig says. That means you should grab things like nuts, olive oil, dark chocolate, and full-fat dairy as go-tos if you want to reign in out-of-control blood sugar. And pair your diet reforms with more exercise: A study from Finland found that overweight men at risk of diabetes who started a weight loss program that included both were 32 percent less likely to develop disease during an average follow up of 9 years than those who didn’t start a program.

A solid 8 hours of sleep and regular exercise also seem to lower your risk, he says. And if you’re over 40 and overweight or obese, current guidelines by the United States Preventive Services Task Force recommend you get your blood sugar tested so your doctor can determine if you’re diabetic or prediabetic.

Man-Killer #5: Stroke (Cerebrovascular Diseases)

Each year, more than 55,000 men die of cerebrovascular disease, any condition that results in little or no blood flow to the brain—most commonly known as a stroke. This accounts for 4.2 percent of all male deaths, making it the 5th leading cause of mortality for them. While most guys associate stroke with old age, 19 percent of stroke victims are actually younger than 55, finds research from the American Academy of Neurology. Even more concerning: Rates of stroke among that age group are on the rise, that same study shows.

What Raises Your Risk

Poor genes, too much body fat, and a smoking habit are all strongly associated with surging stroke risk, says Elizabeth Marsh, M.D., director of the stroke center at Johns Hopkins. A blow to your head should also put you on alert. “Trauma can lead to a dissection, or a tear in a blood vessel wall that can result in a stroke,” Dr. Marsh says. Dissections account for 7 percent of strokes in men under 40, she adds.

Factors to Watch Out For

Blood pressure at or above 120—along with a cigarette habit—is your greatest worry, Dr. Marsh says. A checkup and blood panel are essential for all adult men, she says. Depending on what that test turns up, you may have to see your doctor once a year (or more) to keep tabs on your risk factors.

How to Keep Yourself Safe

A healthy diet and exercise are key. Also, watch for signs you’re having a stroke. “For every minute your brain is without proper blood flow, 1.9 million neurons die,” Dr. Marsh says. Trouble standing or speaking, loss of feeling on one side of your body, and a piercing headache are all classic symptoms, she says.

Man-Killer #4: Chronic Lower Respiratory Disease

Each year, nearly 70,000 men die each year from chronic lower respiratory disease, according to data from the CDC. This accounts for 5.2 percent of all deaths among men, making it the 4th leading cause. Chronic lower respiratory disease is actually a blanket term, which encompasses lung ailments such as emphysema, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and chronic bronchitis.

What Raises Your Risk

Apart from the usual suspects—smoking, secondhand smoke, radon—air pollution is a major driver of lung disease, says Joseph Allen, D.Sc., director of Harvard’s Healthy Buildings program. He highlights air pollutants and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that build up in poorly ventilated spaces. These VOCs include chemical gasses from vehicle exhaust, paint or varnish, construction materials, and even household air fresheners and cleaning products.

Factors to Watch Out For

VOCs are everywhere, and concentrations in tightly sealed spaces—think houses, cars, and offices where windows are kept perpetually closed—can be 3 to 5 times higher than outdoors, Allen says. A chronic cough or problems breathing are symptoms. A breathing test called a “post bronchodilator test” can verify if you have a respiratory disease, but it won’t help you head the disease off.

How to Keep Yourself Safe

First off, avoid secondhand smoke—and if you’re still lighting up, quit. The Environmental Working Group’s website provides details on low-VOC products, which can be tough to identify otherwise, Allen says. Another good rule of thumb: “Avoid scented products, which tend to contain VOCs,” he advises. Increase ventilation by opening windows at home and in your car. “Portable air cleaners can be effective at reducing exposure,” he says

Man-Killer #3: Accidents 

Each year, over 85,000 men die each year from unintentional injuries or accidents, according to data from the CDC. This accounts for 6.4 percent of all deaths among men, making it the 3rd leading cause. What’s more, up until age 45, more men actually die from accidental injury than any other cause, the data shows. And the majority of fatal accidents fall into two categories: motor vehicle crashes and drug overdoses.

What Raises Your Risk 

It sounds simple, but it still warrants attention: Driving after you’ve had a few alcoholic beverages can put you in serious danger. In fact, 65 percent of people who died in alcohol-related crashes had a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08 or higher—above the legal limit in all 50 states, according to data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. And the most common BAC reading among drinking drivers in fatal crashes was .17, or more than twice the legal limit. What’s more, new research suggests fiddling with your phone or driving while high are quickly catching up to alcohol as causes of fatal crashes. And in terms of drug overdose, prescription pain pills kill more people than cocaine and heroin combined, according to stats from the National Institute on Drug Abuse.

Factors to Watch Out For 

If you drink, text, or get stoned and drive—or ride with someone who does—you’re putting your life on the line. “Mixing alcohol with marijuana increases risk taking and aggressive behaviors, so that’s an especially dangerous combination,” says Jonathan Adkins, executive director of the Governors Highway Safety Association. When it comes to painkiller overdose, white men between the ages of 25 and 54 are most at risk, CDC stats show.

How to Keep Yourself Safe 

You’re most likely to die due to an alcohol-related driving incident between midnight and 3 a.m., according to stats from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The more you’re on the road during those hours—even if you’re not drunk—the more you should worry. Regarding pain pills, research suggests taking different opioids—especially without a prescription—can be a fatal recipe.

Man-Killer #2: Cancer 

Cancer accounts for 22.5 percent of all male deaths, making it the second leading cause of mortality for them, according to CDC data. Each year, over 311,000 men die from the condition—that’s over three times the number of those killed by the #3 cause of death for men, accidental injury. 

While cancer deaths really begin to surge when men reach their 40s, what you do earlier in life—the habits you cultivate in your 20s and 30s—are instrumental in raising or lowering your cancer risks, says Elizabeth Platz, Sc.D., deputy chair of epidemiology at the Johns Hopkins School of Public Health. That’s particularly true when it comes to the leading causes of cancer deaths for men—lung, prostate, and colorectal cancers, she says.

#1: Lung Cancer

More men will die from lung cancer than any other form of it. In 2016, nearly 86,000 men will die from cancers of the lung and bronchus—the airways to the lungs— according to estimates from the American Cancer Society (ACS).

What Raises Your Risk

It’s no surprise that cigarettes are your lungs’ nemesis. But you’re also at elevated risk for lung cancer if you work in construction, plumbing, roofing, or other building trades that might expose you to carcinogens like asbestos or radon, says David Madtes, M.D., director of the Lung Cancer Early Detection and Prevention Clinic at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center. Factors to Watch For Smokers and former smokers can look to something called “pack years” to help gauge their risk. That number is calculated by multiplying the number of cigarette packs smoked per day by the number of years you have smoked. Doctors usually consider “heavy smoking”—the group at highest risk of lung cancer—as 30 pack years or more. So that could mean smoking one pack a day for 30 years, or 2 packs a day for 15 years, for example.

How to Keep Yourself Safe

Quit smoking —the sooner the better. A 2013 New England Journal of Medicine study found those who quit before age 40 reduced their risk of death from smoking by 90 percent. If your job puts you at risk, wear a respirator and protective clothing to keep carcinogens out of your lungs and off your skin, Dr. Madtes says. And current or former smokers might also benefit from certain screening tests to catch cancer early when it’s more treatable. For men 55 and older who’ve smoked a total of 30 pack years, a chest CT scan is recommended, he says.

#2: Prostate Cancer

Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death among men. In 2016, an estimated 26,100 men will die from it, according to ACS estimates. What Raises Your Risk Your weight and your genes can predispose you to it. Researchers from Harvard found a man’s risk for prostate cancer jumps 15 percent for every 5-unit rise in his body mass index (BMI). That might be because fat is “metabolically active,” and may drive the kind of immune activity and inflammation that acts as fuel for cancer cells, says Platz. Your family history—particularly if your father or grandfather had prostate cancer—is also a strong predictor of prostate cancer risk, says Larry Lipshultz, M.D., a surgeon and professor of urology at Baylor College of Medicine.

Factors to Watch For

Your results on something called the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test— which looks at your blood levels of a specific protein produced by your prostate—can provide helpful information. Elevated levels of that protein can be a red flag for prostate cancer, Dr. Lipshultz explains. But it’s controversial.

National guidelines used to recommend the PSA test for every man over 50, and also for those over 40 with a family history of the disease, he says. Lately, however, there have been questions raised about whether cancer “over diagnosis” based on the PSA test has caused more harm than good. “Talk to your doctor,” Dr. Lipshultz says. He or she can help you determine whether the test is the right option for you.

How to Keep Yourself Safe

Losing weight is one of the top recommended ways to reduce your risk. “Men who have more body fat are more likely to develop and die of prostate cancer,” Platz says. “The higher your BMI, the higher the risk.” That means a proper diet and regular exercise are vital in protecting against prostate cancer—as they are to keep you safe from other kinds of deadly conditions, too.

#3: Colorectal Cancer

Colorectal cancer is the third leading cause of cancer deaths among men. In 2016, an estimated 26,000 men will die from cancers of the colon and rectum.

What Raises Your Risk

People who are overweight or obese, physically inactive, suffer from certain inflammatory bowel disorders, or who smoke seem to be at higher risk of the condition. A diet super heavy in processed or smoked meats—think salami and sausage—and excessive red meat consumption appear to raise a man’s risks, says Alok Khorana, M.D., chair of oncology research at Cleveland Clinic.

Factors to Watch For

Genetics also play a role, Dr. Kohrana says. So if you have family members who developed the cancer, you may be more likely to get it, too. Even if you don’t have a family history, the symptoms of colorectal cancer can be telling: If you notice things like changes in bowel habits, rectal bleeding, blood in your stool, or unexplained weight loss, talk to your doctor as soon as possible.

How to Keep Yourself Safe

Starting at age 50, all men should schedule a colonoscopy, Dr. Khorana says. Colorectal cancer often begins as a “polyp,” a kind of pre-cancerous lesion that forms in the lining of your colon. If spotted and removed early—a simple procedure performed during your colonoscopy—polyps don’t transform into cancer, Dr. Khorana says. Because they suffer from higher rates of cancer, African American men should start that screening process at age 45. Also, if you have a family history of colorectal cancer, begin screening 15 years before the age at which your youngest relative developed the disease, he adds.

Man-Killer #1: Heart Disease

A bad heart kills more men each year than all types of cancer combined. Each year, over 325,000 men die from heart disease, making it the leading cause of death for them, according to the CDC. In fact, nearly 1 out of every 4 male deaths can be attributed to the heart. But the good news is, you’re not slated to follow that path. “Unlike other deadly diseases, virtually all the major risk factors for heart disease are modifiable,” says Steven Nissen, M.D., chair of cardiovascular medicine at Cleveland Clinic. “Modify your behaviors, and you can significantly lower your risks.”

What Raises Your Risk

Like with other leading causes of death, cigarettes play an important role. “If you’re a younger man—age 30 to 50—smoking doubles the risk you’ll have a heart attack,” Dr. Nissen says. High blood pressure, poor cholesterol, excess body weight, and too little exercise are the other major risk factors, he says.

Factors to Watch For

Some heart attacks might strike silently, meaning they don’t come with the crushing chest pain you might associate with them. Instead, you might feel things like mild chest pain, nausea, vomiting, unexplained fatigue, heartburn, shortness of breath, or discomfort in the neck or jaw, says David Bluemke, M.D., Ph.D., the director of radiology and imaging sciences at the NIH Clinical Center.

How to Keep Yourself Safe

Know what’s actually going on inside your body. You might be on the road to heart disease even if you feel great. So you need a blood test known as a lipid panel.

“Beginning in his 20s, every man should know his cholesterol levels—including both his HDL and LDL measures—and his triglycerides,” Dr. Nissen says. Armed with your cholesterol and triglyceride scores, your doctor can advise you on how to lower your risks. “In general, a so-called Mediterranean diet with plenty of fruits, vegetables, nuts, and olive oil has a favorable effect on cholesterol and triglycerides,” Dr. Nissen says.

Physical activity also helps. Aim for at least 30 minutes of exercise 5 days a week.