The recent “pink wave” swept into Congress an unprecedented number of women, many of whom put women’s health high on their list of priorities. There’s no question that much can—and should—be done to improve women’s health. However, there’s also no question that a legislative focus on women’s health continues to ignore a far larger problem: the very real crisis in men’s health.
The facts are simple, yet stark:
• On average, men in the U.S. live shorter (by five years), sicker lives than women, dying at younger ages and in greater numbers from nine of the top 10 causes of death.
• Men are 40% more likely than women to die of cardiovascular disease, cancer, and diabetes, and twice as likely to die of liver disease
• Men account for 67% of opiate overdose deaths, 75% of suicides, and 90% of workplace injuries and fatalities
• Men are much more likely than women to be unemployed and less likely to have insurance.
• Boys and men engage more than females in over 30 unhealthy behaviors (alcohol use, tobacco use, overeating, etc.) that increase their risk for poor health outcomes. They often ignore their symptoms and delay getting medical attention until it’s an emergency—or too late.
• Many men and boys —particularly those with low incomes—are systematically excluded from getting care. The Affordable Care Act, for example, covers free annual “well-woman” physical exams and screenings for STDs and mental health for women and girls, but NOT for men and boys. As a result, men and boys often don’t receive preventive care, and potentially life-threatening conditions don’t get diagnosed early, when they’re far easier to treat and/or cure.
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