Top 5 Killers of San Diego Men
Fact: We are all going to die.
Fact: Men typically die sooner than women.
But for Fact No. 2, it doesn’t have to be that way. There are things men can do to live longer, healthier lives.
June is Men’s Health Month and the County Health and Human Services Agency is taking a look at the top five causes of death of San Diego men and offering some tips that can help them live longer.
1. Cancer
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), over 300,000 men in America lose their lives to cancer each year. In San Diego County, 2,574 men died from cancer in 2012, the most recent year with data available.
Prevention tips include:
- Get regular preventive health and cancer screenings.
- Quit smoking and avoid second hand smoke and other tobacco products.
- Eat a healthy, varied diet rich in fruits and vegetables.
- Maintain a healthy weight and exercise regularly; County parks are a great option.
2. Heart Disease
Heart disease is the leading cause of death for men in the United States, killing about 300,000 men every year—that’s one in every four male deaths. In the San Diego region, heart disease is the number two killer. A total of 2,506 men died in 2012.
Half of the men who die suddenly of coronary heart disease have no previous symptoms. Even if you have no symptoms, you may still be at risk for heart disease. Between 70 and 89 percent of sudden cardiac events occur in men.
Prevention tips include:
- Know your numbers. High cholesterol, high blood pressure and diabetes can lead to heart attacks.
- Eat foods low in saturated fat and cholesterol and high in fiber.
- Maintain a healthy weight, exercise regularly, stop smoking, and, if you drink, do so in moderation.
- If you have diabetes, keep your blood sugar levels under control.
3. Unintentional Injuries
Unintentional injuries are simply accidents. Injuries can occur due to falls, poisonings, fires, and impaired or distracted driving. More than 130,000 men die in accidents each year. In San Diego County, 640 died from unintentional injuries in 2012.
Prevention tips include:
- Don’t text or use the phone while driving.
- Wear seat belts and make sure everyone in the vehicle is restrained.
- Have hand rails and working smoke detectors and fire extinguishers in your home.
- Wear appropriate safety equipment at home, work or play.
4. Chronic Lower Respiratory Diseases
Chronic lower respiratory diseases, primarily chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases (COPD) such as emphysema and chronic bronchitis, kill about 140,000 people every year. Women and men are affected equally, yet more women than men have died of COPD since 2000.
In San Diego County, 477 men died from chronic lung diseases in 2012.
Prevention tips include:
- Don’t smoke.
- Avoid secondhand smoke.
- Avoid irritants that may contribute to COPD, like chemical fumes, air pollution and dust.
5. Alzheimer’s Disease
Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia. It is a progressive disease beginning with mild memory loss possibly leading to loss a person’s ability to carry out daily activities.
In 2012, as many as 5 million Americans were living with Alzheimer’s disease. In San Diego, about 60,000 people—most of them women—are living with Alzheimer’s disease and 403 men died from it in 2012.
There is no known cure for Alzheimer’s disease. However, active medical management can improve the quality of life for individuals living with the disease, as well as their caregivers.
Prevention strategies involve the same behavioral efforts as recommended for the chronic diseases listed above: active living, healthy eating, and no tobacco use.
Treatment focuses on several different aspects, including:
- Helping people maintain mental function.
- Managing behavioral symptoms.
- Slowing or delaying the symptoms of the disease.
“Preventing chronic disease and injury is a goal of the County’s Live Well San Diego vision,” said Wilma Wooten, M.D., M.P.H., County public health officer. “Sometimes a few lifestyle changes can make all the difference.”