Here’s the sad truth, guys: As you get older, you’re virtually guaranteed to experience male health problems of some kind. That’s just part of the aging process. There may be some men out there who go through life unscathed until they die of old age, but you’re probably not going to be one of them. Chances are something is going to affect you at some point.
That’s not a cause for concern, necessarily. But it is a good reminder that it’s important to lead a healthy lifestyle as you age to minimize the chance of problems, and to recognize which common male health issues might actually be causes for concern so you can seek treatment when needed.
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Top men’s health issues
Men are just as susceptible as women to most of the major health issues affecting people in the U.S.—things like hypertension, heart disease, obesity, and diabetes. In fact, males may be even more susceptible, as men are more likely than women to smoke, drink, overeat, and engage in risky behavior. You’ve probably already heard of the most common conditions that affect both men and women.
1. Hypertension
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 46% of Americans over the age of 20 have high blood pressure. But that number shoots up to 51% in men, while only 40% of women have hypertension. High blood pressure can develop at any age, but the percentages go up as men get older.
- Ages 20-34: 28%
- Ages 35-44: 47%
- Ages 45-54: 59%
- Ages 55-74: 67%
- Ages 75+: 82%
2. Heart disease
The leading cause of death in the U.S. and worldwide, heart disease claimed 696,962 American lives in 2020, accounting for nearly a quarter of all deaths nationwide, including those from COVID-19. Coronary heart disease is the most common type of heart disease, affecting about 7% of adults over the age of 20. Heart disease and heart attacks can affect anyone, but they are more common in middle-aged and older adults. The risk for heart disease and heart attacks goes up as you age.
Men are twice as likely as women to experience a heart attack at some point in their lives. Speaking to the severity of heart disease in men compared to women, a large population study found a 17% higher risk of death from cardiovascular causes in men compared to women, who were otherwise similar with regard to other risk factors, such as age, smoking, obesity, diabetes, and blood pressure.
3. Obesity
In a 2019 study, the CDC concluded that 41% of American men are obese, which is a slightly lower percentage than women, of whom 42% are considered obese. However, 76% of men are either overweight or obese, compared to 69% of women. Obesity rates have been climbing steadily for decades across all age groups as a result of the trend toward poorer diets and more sedentary lifestyles, but the percentage of adult men with obesity still varies somewhat with age.
- Ages 20-34: 37%
- Ages 35-54: 43%
- Ages 55-64: 44%
- Ages 65-74: 42%
- Ages 75+: 32%
4. Cancer
The second-leading cause of death in the U.S.—with 602,350 fatalities in 2020—cancer is estimated to show up for the first time (not recurring cases) in about 1.8 million Americans each year, according to the National Cancer Institute. Approximately 40% of all Americans, two out of every five people, will be diagnosed with cancer at some point in their lives, and men are more likely to die from cancer than women (190 deaths per 100,000 people compared to 136).
Some cancers are genetic in origin and may not be preventable, but many types of cancer—including skin cancers, lung cancer, colorectal cancer and cancer of the mouth, throat or esophagus—may be prevented by eating healthier, getting regular exercise and not drinking alcohol excessively or using tobacco products. Cancer rates (number of cases per 100,000 people) go up with age, affecting fewer than 25 people under the age of 20, 350 people aged 45-49 and more than 1,000 people aged 60 or older.
5. Diabetes
According to the CDC, more than 37 million Americans have diabetes, or roughly 11% of the population. This includes 28.7 million diagnosed cases and another 8.5 million undiagnosed cases. Of those diagnosed with diabetes, nearly 90% are overweight or obese. Another 96 million people over the age of 18 (38% of American adults) are estimated to have prediabetes, with men more likely to have the condition than women. A report from the CDC in 2020 points out that just 4% of adults aged 18-44 have diabetes (diagnosed or undiagnosed), compared to 18% of adults aged 45-64 and 27% of adults 65 and older. Besides illustrating that age is a risk factor, the report also notes that the prevalence rate of diabetes is higher in men than women.
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6. Accidental injury or poisoning
When it comes to preventable deaths due to things like car crashes, firearms, and drug overdoses, the numbers (from 2020) are sobering.
- All injury deaths: 278,345
- All poisoning deaths: 97,034
- Motor vehicle traffic deaths: 40,698
- All firearm deaths: 45,222
- Drug poisoning deaths: 91,799
As one might expect, men are much more likely than women to die from injuries. In a study done from 1981-2007, a total of 2,920,260 men and 1,119,669 women died of injury. The good news is that as they get older and start taking fewer risks, men become less likely to suffer injuries (or poisoning) due to car or motorcycle accidents, firearms or drug overdoses. However, the likelihood that an injury is related to falling goes up as you age.
“Many of the health risks that disproportionately affect young men involve ‘self-inflicted’ injury caused by risky behavior or accidental injury,” says John H. Tholen, Ph.D., a clinical psychologist and author from California. “A youthful illusion of invulnerability—combined with brain areas responsible for good judgment that remain incompletely developed until the mid-20s —creates a high risk for injury due to substance abuse, automobile accidents, overexertion, and sexually transmitted diseases.”
7. COVID-19
For a variety of reasons, more men have died from COVID-19 than women in the U.S. Early in the pandemic, researchers chalked this up to sex differences in immune response, comborbities, and risk-taking behaviors. Now, the reasons appear more nuanced—a combination of social factors, timing of surges, state health policies, race, income level, and occupation.
RELATED: Is COVID-19 hitting men harder than women?
Men’s sexual health issues
In addition to the conditions above, there are a number of health issues affecting only men that can become a problem as you get older.
Prostate cancer
At the top of the male disease list, prostate cancer is the second-most common type of cancer in American men, trailing only skin cancer. The American Cancer Society estimates that more than 260,000 men will develop prostate cancer each year, and more than 34,000 will die of the disease. The average age of those diagnosed with prostate cancer is about 66, and it’s rarely found in men under 40. About 60% of all cases occur in men 65 or older.
Erectile dysfunction (ED)
The inability to achieve or maintain an erection, erectile dysfunction is a common problem in the U.S., affecting about 30 million American men. Once considered uncommon in young men, ED was shown to be prevalent in 26% of males under 40 in one study, and it affects roughly 10% of men per decade—50% of men in their 50s, 60% of men in their 60s, etc. Men older than 40 are also three times more likely than younger men to experience complete ED.
RELATED: Erectile dysfunction treatments and medications
Low testosterone
Also called male hypogonadism, low testosterone is a condition in which the testicles don’t produce enough testosterone, an important male sex hormone that helps regulate sex drive, bone and muscle mass, fat distribution and strength. The Cleveland Clinic estimates that nearly 40% of men aged 45 and older suffer from low testosterone levels. Testosterone declines naturally in most men starting around the age of 30 and drops by about 1% a year. This decline can increase, however, due to factors like injuries, medications, chemotherapy, alcohol abuse, obesity or a variety of other conditions.
RELATED: How to increase testosterone
What age do health issues start in men?
Male health problems can start at any age, but in most cases, chronic health conditions aren’t something that young men think about very much. “Most men aren’t concerned about their health until their late 30s to early 40s,” says Aaron Henry, a licensed physician’s assistant, health coach, and the owner of TrueGuide Health Consulting. “At this stage a lot of men start developing elevated blood pressure or gaining weight, or they start noticing that they don’t have as much energy as they used to.”
“Most men start experiencing severe complications when they hit their late 50s to mid-60s,” adds Nancy Mitchell, a registered geriatric nurse with Assisted Living Center. “Generally, the body’s performance and defenses decrease rapidly from that point, so any existing or underlying conditions worsen as men approach seniorhood.”
Fortunately, not all male health conditions get worse (or more prevalent) as men get older. In addition to depression and accidental injuries, both of which decrease in frequency as males age, a few other conditions, such as asthma, are less likely to occur in older men.
“Boys tend to outgrow asthma as they age and their airways widen,” says Mitchell. “The spike in testosterone during puberty has been shown to reduce the incidence of asthma attacks. As males continue to develop, many of them stop experiencing symptoms of respiratory distress.”
“At younger ages, most men aren’t susceptible to chronic conditions that usually develop over time,” says Henry. “For older men, diseases such as hypertension, diabetes and heart disease are more common due to certain lifestyle habits.”
Here are some of the most common health issues to be aware of for men of different ages.
Male health problems in childhood and adolescence
- Injuries
- Asthma
- Anxiety
- Mental health issues
- Alcohol, drug, and tobacco use
Men’s health problems in their 20s
- Immune system disorders
- Sexually transmitted diseases
- Injuries
- Alcohol, drug, and tobacco use
- Skipping physical exams
- Poor diet
Men’s health problems at 30 through 50
- High cholesterol
- Stress-related issues
- High blood pressure
Men’s health problems after 50
- Colon cancer
- Prostate cancer
- Heart disease
What are the keys for men to achieve better health?
It’s essential for men to visit their primary care provider regularly to be screened for these common conditions. An annual physical is generally covered by insurance and can catch dangerous health issues before they become a problem.
Then, be sure to eat a healthy diet and get enough exercise. “In our western culture, we consume large quantities of unhealthy processed carbohydrates, excessive sugar, and unhealthy fats,” says Henry. “In addition, most American men don’t get enough physical activity, which is necessary for better cardiovascular health, maintenance of healthy muscle mass and mental well-being.”
It’s all easier said than done due to busy schedules, the ready availability of unhealthy foods and inadequate health insurance coverage that may keep men from seeking medical help. But that doesn’t mean better health goals are out of reach. The key is to start simply and stay consistent.
