On average, men live five years less than women, while they are more likely to suffer from more serious diseases and at the same time, according to experts, they often behave less consciously about their health, with a greater risk to their lives.

Studies show that men do not visit the doctor as often as women and avoid preventive medical examinations. Today, on International Men’s Day, experts are calling men to action.

According to a study by the German Society for Men and Health (DGMG), 59% of women undergo preventive examinations, while among men this figure is only 22%. DGMG President Frank Sommer says that while men are traditionally reluctant to get tested, things are slowly changing in the new generation. Slow but sure step.

Serious and non-serious reasons for not wanting to see a doctor

The reasons for this reluctance are many. In a survey of 970 men, 78% said the reason was the long wait at the doctor’s office, says Sommer, professor of andrology at the University Hospital Hamburg-Eppendorf.

About 1 in 4 is afraid of bad news, and one in five expresses concern about the possible painfulness of the test. Professor Sommer highlights the lack of information many men have about high risk factors such as high blood sugar and elevated lipids, respectively.

However, the data speaks for itself. In the age group, especially between the ages of 40 and 60, men are much more prone to cardiovascular disease than women: “Sometimes five times more men than women in this age group have sudden cardiac death,” Prof. Sommer notes. . Cancer also strikes men more often when it precedes burnout.

Prevention is important, the professor emphasizes, citing erectile dysfunction and its causes as an example. If one wants to find out the causes, one can find a vascular problem, which in turn can point to a generalized vascular disease, which in a few years will cause a heart attack or stroke. Such a discovery could save a person’s life.

About men’s health

The German Society for Men’s Health warns that men should be motivated to take responsibility for their own health, be aware of the risks and lead a healthier lifestyle. Physical, psychological and social support is needed. According to the company, twice as many men die of lung cancer as women, with Germany having the highest percentage of depressed men.

62% of Germans are overweight, alcohol and drug use is much more common among men, and they drive more dangerously than women, they account for 75% of road traffic deaths. The traditional image of the invulnerable man, conditioned by social stereotypes, is another reason why men do not pay such close attention to their health. However, a representative of the German Association for Men’s Health reports that there is a growing percentage of health awareness among young people.

However, the question remains: why do men have a shorter life expectancy? Many theories have been put forward, some of which are related to genetics, while others are related to exogenous factors, explains professor of andrology Sommer. In terms of genetics: every woman has two X chromosomes, and every man has an X chromosome and a Y chromosome, which encoded much less genetic information than the X chromosome. Result: If the X chromosome is damaged, the Y chromosome cannot take over all the information. “We men are really the weaker sex in terms of health,” admits Professor Sommer.