Being a man shortens the lifespan of men, research shows

Masculinity might be toxic.

A study has found that being a man shaves years off men’s lives, partly because they are too proud to go to a doctor about their physical problems.

Researchers followed 4,000 men with high blood pressure between the ages of 12 and 42 – a condition that puts them at risk for heart attacks, strokes and dementia.

Those with higher masculinity traits were up to 11 percent less likely to take their prescribed blood pressure medications.

Researchers at the University of Chicago found that their need to appear self-reliant and strong prevents them from seeking medical help and found that even after the person was diagnosed, they refused to treat the health problems.

This pattern means that men develop serious problems, such as cardiovascular disease, that could have been prevented if they had taken their health seriously.

“We see how the pressure to convey identity—whether it’s rooted in gender, race, sexuality, or something else—affects health behaviors,” says lead study author Nathaniel Glasser, MD.

“Belonging and belonging is a complex task, and we strongly believe that greater social sympathy, empathy and patience for others who take on that task would be good for people’s health.”

It comes after new data showed half of American adults have hypertension – and 40 percent of them are completely unaware they have it.

Glasser and his team looked at data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health (Add Health), which collected health information and survey responses from more than 12,000 people between 1994 and 2018.

Glasser said: ‘We are purely focused on self-reported behaviors, preferences and beliefs, and how closely these reported behaviors and attitudes resemble those of same-sex peers.’

Men who displayed higher masculine traits consistently emphasized their dominance and denied their feelings of vulnerability.

The ADD Health survey asked participants if a doctor, nurse, or other health care provider has ever told you that you have (high blood pressure or hypertension, high blood sugar or diabetes, high blood cholesterol, triglycerides, lipids, or hyperlipidemia).”

Hyperlipidemia is a condition in which there is high levels of fat in the blood, which makes it difficult for the blood to flow through the arteries, increasing the risk of heart disease and stroke.

According to the study, this could be due to the fact that men are less likely to seek help from a doctor and the diagnosis can remain hidden for years until it develops into something more serious.

Those who showed signs of masculinity since young adulthood were seven percent less likely to use prescription blood pressure medications in their 30s and early 40s, and 10 percent less likely to use diabetes medications.

A survey conducted by the Cleveland Clinic in TK found that 65 percent of men will avoid seeking medical care for as long as possible because they are too busy, believe the problem will heal on its own or they don’t want to feel weak . .

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the prevalence of heart disease in men has fallen from 8.3 percent in 2009 and there is evidence that they are beginning to become more vulnerable than in the past.

There is increasing discussion about men accepting their vulnerability and many have spoken out about the pressure put on them to be ‘tough’.

Glasser said: ‘Our hypothesis is that social pressure leads to behavioral differences that influence efforts to reduce cardiovascular risk.

He added that it is “concerning because it could lead to worse long-term health outcomes.”