Page 18 THE VILLADOM TIMES III • October 2, 2013 TOPS Club presents tips for men’s health One truism of most modern Western societies is that men die at higher rates than women for all the top 10 causes of death, as compiled by the U.S. Centers for Disease Con- trol and Prevention. Perhaps it should come as no surprise then that – on average – men also tend to die younger than women. Are men “stuck” because of their genetics, or can they take steps that will help them to be healthier? The good news is that many of the top causes of death and disease are preventable – and they can be treated pro- actively if they are discovered soon enough. In order to help men (and women) increase their knowledge of health issues, Nicholas “Dr. Nick” Yphantides, M.D., M.P.H., Medical Editor for TOPS Club, Inc.® (Take Off Pounds Sensibly®), the nonprofit weight-loss support organization, briefly examines things that everyone should know about heart disease, stroke, lung cancer, and prostate cancer. Although heart disease is the leading killer of both men and women, almost twice as many males die of conditions that affect the cardiovascular system. Heart disease is thought to begin in men about 10 years earlier than it does in women. This means men have a shorter time to prevent the development of the underlying causes of heart disease. While men are more likely to make their health a prior- ity later in life, by that time it may be too late. Men need to be more decisive and intentional earlier. Some risk factors for heart disease include gender, family history, and age. Modifying one’s lifestyle to regularly eat right, stay active, avoid or quit using tobacco products, and get early medical screenings for high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes are all recommended courses of action. Strokes are the third leading killer of men after heart disease and all forms of cancer. While the rate of strokes in men is higher than it is for women, differences between the sexes are not as significant as people get older. The key risk factor in predicting a stroke is high blood pressure. Behav- iors that can reduce the risk of stroke are almost identical to those that can reduce the risk of heart disease. Lung cancer remains the leading cancer killer of men and women. Each year, it claims more lives than prostate, colon, and breast cancer combined. Fortunately, rates of lung cancer have been dropping since the 1980s. In men, this trend is directly related to drops in the consumption of tobacco products in the wake of negative attention tobacco use received in the 1960s. Tobacco use is responsible for 90 percent of lung cancer cases, so the full focus of personal prevention efforts is to quit. As soon as an individual stops smoking, that person’s chances of getting cancer from smoking shrink. Remem- ber, it’s possible to prevent further damage to the lungs no matter how long one has been using tobacco. Beyond smoking, additional risk factors for lung cancer include exposure to secondhand smoke, asbestos, radon, and air pollution. Those who are concerned about possible exposure to carcinogens should speak with a doctor. (continued on page 21)