MayoClinic.com examines top 10 health threats for men

ROCHESTER, Minn. — A new article on MayoClinic.com explores the 10 leading killers of American men. The article offers advice on prevention and risk-reduction strategies, as well as perspective on how other factors, such as ethnicity and age, can affect men's health risks.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in 2003 (the most recent year for which CDC statistics are available) nearly 80 percent of male deaths could be attributed to just 10 causes. Heart disease and cancer top the list, accounting for over half of the male deaths that year.

The 10 leading killers include:

• Heart disease
• Cancer
• Unintentional injuries
• Stroke
• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
• Diabetes
• Influenza and pneumonia
• Suicide
• Kidney disease
• Alzheimer's disease

Statistics highlighted in the story show men are at higher risk of premature death than are women in most categories. Though it's unclear exactly why, men have a shorter life span than women. A man's life expectancy in America is 5.3 years less than the average woman's.

Inherited traits and male sex hormones may play a role, affecting characteristics such as body fat distribution. Certain lifestyle behaviors may also predispose men to premature death. CDC statistics show that men are more likely to smoke, drink, use illicit drugs and engage in casual sex than are women. All of these behaviors can increase the risk of serious diseases. Males are also more likely to take risks and behave aggressively, which may partly explain why they have a higher risk of dying from accidents, suicide and homicide.

The good news is that by recognizing how these factors affect their lives, men can take steps to significantly reduce their risks of premature death from these common causes. For information on these conditions and more, visit the Men's Health Center at www.MayoClinic.com.

• Men's top 10 health threats: Mostly preventable
• Men's Health Center