MEN are more likely than women to get sick and die from three common conditions, warn researchers – and are also less likely to get help for them.
There’s been strong evidence in the past that sex and gender can substantially influence a person’s .
Men have been found more likely to develop certain heart diseases, while women have a higher risk of osteoporosis.
Studies have also suggested women are more likely to experience , , and , while men are more likely to struggle with substance abuse and suicide.
A new study by Angela Chang of the University of Southern , and colleagues focused on three conditions – hypertension (), , and .
The analysis identified significant differences between the sexes at each step in the “health pathway”;.
This included exposure to a risk factor, development of the condition, diagnosis, treatment and death.
Looking at global health data for people of different sexes and ages for the three conditions, the researchers found men had higher rates of disease and higher rates of death compared to females, and in some countries, were less likely to seek out health care and adhere to treatment.
In most countries, men were also more likely to , while women were more like to be and engage in unsafe sex.
Overall, the study suggests public health professionals need to develop strategies to encourage males to participate in preventive and health care services.
Professors Kent Buse and Sarah Hawkes, co-founders and co-CEOs of Global 50/50 said: “We have long advocated the benefits of publishing sex disaggregated data.
“As our Gendered Health Pathways demonstrates, such data can reveal where the health journeys of men and women diverge be it in relation to the risk factors they are exposed to, their health care seeking behaviors or their experiences in health care systems.
“That is an important first step towards health equity.
“Most of these differences are not explained by sex (biology) alone, but by socially-constructed gender – highlighting the importance of taking a gender justice approach to reducing health inequities.
“A gender analysis can help to shape systems of health for all.”;
Angela Chang, senior author, added: “The evidence is clear: sex differences persist at nearly every point along the health pathway, from higher rates in men to higher prevalence in women, yet interventions rarely reflect this.
“Without sex-disaggregated cascade data, we’re flying blind—unable to detect who is falling through the cracks in prevention, diagnosis, and care.”;
Hypertension
Hypertension, also known as high blood pressure, isa condition where the force of your blood against your artery walls is consistently too high.
This means the heart has to work harder to pump blood throughout your body.
The condition can lead to serious health problems if not managed, including heart attack and .
Hypertension can be caused by a combination of factors, includinggenetics, lifestyle choices, and underlying medical conditions.
A family history of high blood pressure increases your risk of developing it, lifestyle choices such as following an unhealthy and smoking can contribute to increased blood pressure, and conditions like kidney disease can play a role in regulating blood pressure.
The condition often has no noticeable symptoms, even when blood pressure is dangerously high.
The most effective way to determine if you have high blood pressure isthrough a blood pressure test performed by a healthcare professional or by using a validated home blood pressure monitor.
If you have hypertension, the following tips below could help you lower it...
Diabetes
Diabetes isa chronic metabolic disorder characterized by high blood glucose levels.
This occurs when the body either doesn’t produce enough insulin or can’t properly use the insulin it produces.
Insulin is a hormone that helps glucose, a type of sugar, enter cells for energy.
When glucose stays in the bloodstream, it can lead to serious health problems over time, such as , kidney disease, and nerve damage.
Diabetes symptoms can vary in severity and how quickly they appear, but some common signs include, , unexplained , and feeling very tired.
Other potential symptoms include blurred vision, slow-healing wounds, and increased hunger.
Type 2 diabetes, the most common form, is often linked to lifestyle factors like obesity and physical inactivity, as well as genetics and age.
To lower your risk, follow the steps below...
HIV/AIDS
Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a virus that attacks the body’s immune system.
Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) occurs at the most advanced stage of infection
In the UK, most cases of HIV are caused by having sex with a person who has HIVwithout using a condom.
If left untreated, it can lead to serious complications, includinga weakened immune system, increased risk of infections and certain cancers, and neurological problems.
Most people infected with HIV experiencea short, flu-like illness that occurs two to sixweeks after infection, says the NHS.
After this, HIV may not cause anysymptoms for several years.
It’s estimated up to 80 per cent of people who are infected with HIV experience this flu-like illness.
The most common symptoms are a raised temperature (fever), sore throat, and body rash.
Other symptoms can include tiredness, , muscle pain, and swollen glands.
The symptoms usually last one to two weeks, but can be longer.
They’re a sign that your immune system is putting up a fight against the virus.
But the NHS advises having these symptoms doesn’t necessarily mean you have the HIV virus – they’re commonly caused by conditions other than HIV.
If you experience several of the symptoms and think you’ve been at risk of HIV infection, you should get a HIV test.
Find out if you’re at risk of HIV below...
