The leading cause of preventable death in men is heart disease

Here’s how PocDoc is raising awareness for a healthier future for men this Movember

Authored by: Dr Matthew Lee; BMSc, MBBS, MSc

Last reviewed: Nov 2024. 

What's in this PocDoc Article:

• Thousands of men in the United Kingdom are dying prematurely every year
• Men engage in behaviours that increase their risk of avoidable deaths
• Men delay getting regular health checks
• Unhealthy lifestyle habits in men increase their risk of dying earlier
• Heart disease is the leading cause of premature death in men
• Regular health checks are crucial to improving men’s health

Thousands of men in the United Kingdom are dying prematurely every year

Around 133,000 men in the UK die prematurely every year, according to the “The Real Face of Men’s Health” report by the Movember Institute of Men’s Health. This problem is especially prevalent in disadvantaged areas where men were living 9.7 years less than men in the least deprived areas.

Beyond the UK, experts report that globally, men are “experiencing a higher and growing burden of disease with fatal consequences”.

Why is this happening?

From delaying health checks to higher rates of smoking and alcohol consumption, studies show that men are more likely to engage in behaviours that can lead to poor health outcomes, making them at high risk for heart disease, type 2 diabetes and cancer.

This Movember, join PocDoc as we shed light on the multiple factors that can cause poor health outcomes in men and the necessary steps to improve life expectancy in men.

Men engage in behaviours that increase their risk of avoidable deaths

The steady increase in avoidable deaths in men has been linked to certain factors that increase their risk of preventable disease. These include:

1. Lack of regular health checks, resulting in delayed diagnoses.

2. Increase in stress that worsens existing conditions.

3. Lifestyle factors which lead to unhealthy habits.

Men delay getting regular health checks

Regular health checks are crucial for any preventive care system to ensure well-being. However, a study by the Movember Institute of Men’s Health revealed that “64% of men wait more than seven days with symptoms before seeing a doctor”, while other reports show that 41% will only visit a doctor if it’s an urgent matter. This reluctance to get checked may be the reason why some men are living with undiagnosed conditions.

According to the Office of National Statistics, “66% of younger males aged 16 to 24 years with hypertension were particularly likely to be undiagnosed”, which puts them at a higher risk of a heart attack or stroke.

Stress can lead to more health complications

According to the American Heart Association, middle-aged men who are prone to anxiety may be prone to risk factors that increase their chance of developing heart disease, stroke and diabetes.

Another study published in the Journal of the American Heart Association reported that men who are often overwhelmed develop risk factors such as obesity, high blood pressure and high cholesterol at a faster rate than those who are less worried. This results in a 10%-13% higher risk of developing heart disease or stroke.

Unhealthy lifestyle habits in men increase their risk of dying earlier

Various studies reveal that more men are engaging in behaviours that negatively impact their health. These behaviours include lifestyle choices that can increase their risk of diseases such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes, including:

1. Lack of physical activity

According to the British Heart Foundation, 20 million adults in the UK do not meet government guidelines for physical activity. Gov.UK reports that 34% of men are not active enough to maintain good health.

This inactivity can lead to an increase in heart disease risk in men. To prevent this, the NHS recommends at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity weekly.

2. Poor diet

A poor diet significantly increases the risk of avoidable diseases. Poor diet contributes to 13% of all deaths in the UK as it leads to preventable conditions such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol and type 2 diabetes. A diet low in saturated fats and low in added sugar can help to boost your HDL ‘good’ cholesterol and lower your LDL ‘bad’ cholesterol.

3. High alcohol consumption

In addition to physical inactivity and poor eating habits, a high portion of men surveyed, 28%, drank at increasingly high levels (over the recommended 14 units). Consuming more alcohol than the recommended alcohol level elevates triglycerides and bad cholesterol levels in the blood. This increases the risk of cardiovascular disease.

Heart disease is the leading cause of premature death in men

Image showing the top 5 causes of premature death in men in England and Wales from the Movember Institute of Men’s Health

A report by the Movember Institute of Men’s Health highlighted that the leading cause of preventable death in men is ischaemic heart disease. Of the 2.3 million individuals across the UK living with cardiovascular disease, men account for around 1.5 million.

Cardiovascular disease prevalence is also a global issue

Heart disease has also been labelled as the leading cause of death in the US for more than a century, with coronary heart disease claiming 40% of heart-related deaths. 

The average age for a heart attack in the US is 65.6 years in men. However, premature deaths related to CVD have increased in young and middle-aged adults, with 1 in 5 deaths in individuals aged 25 to 46.

Regular health checks are crucial to improving men’s health

Improving the life expectancy among men can be done by implementing certain preventive care methods. One such method is having regular health checks, including those for heart health. With 1 in 8 men dying from coronary heart disease, the PocDoc Healthy Heart Check is an easy and effective way for men to take charge of their heart health.

With PocDoc, you can:

• Receive their full cholesterol panel, with results compared to NHS guidelines.

• Receive their healthy heart age

• Receive their 10-year risk of a heart attack or stroke.

So, we encourage all men to take charge of their health this Movember.