The #1 Killer Of Men—and How You Can Avoid It

The average man is expected to die nearly 5 years earlier than the average woman, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The health of men remains a vital concern in our country, especially since many guys put their own wellbeing on the back burner.

In fact, more than 1 in 5 guys have not seen any kind of health professional in over a year, a report from the National Center for Health Statistics found.

That’s one reason National Men’s Health Week, which runs from June 13 to 19 this year, was created: to raise awareness for the preventable health problems facing men, and to encourage them to seek medical care for them before it’s too late.

This year, we’re shining a spotlight on the 7 most common man-killers.

We reported on one every single day, and are ending with the top man-killer: Read on to learn what can raise your risk and how to protect yourself from it—so you don’t become another statistic.

Man-Killer #1: Heart Disease

A bad heart kills more men each year than all types of cancer combined.

Each year, over 325,000 men die from heart disease, making it the leading cause of death for them, according to the CDC.

In fact, nearly 1 out of every 4 male deaths can be attributed to the heart.

But the good news is, you’re not slated to follow that path.

“Unlike other deadly diseases, virtually all the major risk factors for heart disease are modifiable,” says Steven Nissen, M.D., chair of cardiovascular medicine at Cleveland Clinic. “Modify your behaviors, and you can significantly lower your risks.”

What Raises Your Risk

Like with other leading causes of death, cigarettes play an important role.

“If you’re a younger man—age 30 to 50—smoking doubles the risk you’ll have a heart attack,” Dr. Nissen says.

High blood pressure, poor cholesterol, excess body weight, and too little exercise are the other major risk factors, he says.