Men’s health centre

Why men's lives are shorter than women's

Lengthen Your Lifespan, a book by Dr Marianne Legato.

• Coronary artery disease is three times higher among men who are clinically depressed
• Male suicides outnumber female suicides in every age group
• Suicide is one of the top three causes of death among males between the ages of 15 and 34.
• By the age of 90, women outnumber men by three to one.

The book focuses on the biological, cultural and personal reasons men's life span lasts an average of six years less than women's.

Male mortality is shorter in part, the author explains, because males are more fragile and inherently more vulnerable than females from birth. And unlike women, who have fought hard to have their specific health needs validated and addressed, men haven't demanded equal treatment.

Dr Legato says it is a need that has never been addressed, that men have been tremendously neglected and it doesn't have to be that way.

Men's medical challenges owe a great deal to cultural conditioning. The rules are set shortly after birth, the author believes. Many men only seek medical advice when under pressure from a spouse or when their condition has deteriorated to a severe state.

Women are able to logically ask for help says the author, who has long promoted the concept of gender-specific medicine.

How men can live longer

In her book, Dr Legato examines and champions an end to the lack of awareness among men, and even the medical community, regarding the specific health needs of a male that could help prevent male deaths. Men, she says, deserve better and should insist on higher standards.

Dr Legato highlights the following leading factors of death in men in which men can make a significant difference in their health and improve male life expectancy.

1. Speak frankly with your GP

Leave embarrassment in the waiting room. Women are taught at an early age to be candid and open with their GP. Symptoms that can be uncomfortable to talk about, such as  erectile dysfunction, can be tied to more serious ailments such as diabetes and  heart disease.

She encourages men to perform testicular self-examinations in the way women are taught to check their breasts for irregularities. Although men may cringe at getting a prostate check, they are far less uncomfortable than experiencing the pain of cancer treatment.

2. Check testosterone levels

Approximately from the age of 30, testosterone begins to dip by 1% each year, says Dr Legato. Lowered testosterone levels can lead to a decrease in vitality, muscle mass, ability to perform prolonged exercise, memory, concentration and libido. Not only does this impair quality of life, it can contribute to depression, which can have a significant effect on male health, potentially increasing the risk of coronary disease. There are several treatments available, including gels, patches and injections, that can help restore this vital hormone to proper levels.