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Coffee Combats These 6 Common Health Risks For Men

Coffee Combats These 6 Common Health Risks For Men

11 min read JUN 27, 2024

“Knowing is half the battle…”

Children of the 80’s grew accustomed to hearing the above line from their real American hero, GI Joe. But, this saying doesn’t apply to youngsters alone…

Today we want to focus our time discussing the top health risks common to men.

Such as:

Heart disease - Did you know that one in four adult men are at risk of dying from heart disease?

Cancer - When we think of cancer risks for men, our minds often go to prostate cancer. And, while it’s certainly true that men are at risk of developing this type of cancer, they are also more prone to lung cancer.

Injury - Men are commonly thought to take more risks than women, but even unintentional injuries are far more common in men than women.

And, this brief list only scratches the surface. So, we’d like to take some time to examine more of the top health risks threatening men today.

Why?

Because, knowing these risks is a man’s first line of defense, or to put it in GI Joe terms, knowing these risks is half the battle.

The premise behind this popular 1980’s saying is that knowing or learning something is only the beginning, as such knowledge then requires action.

So, as we look at these risks, we’ll also list ways that coffee can help men combat these threats.

Now for the first half of the battle for health and wellness in men…

6 Common Health Risks For Men

Fair or not, there are some health concerns that are more prominent in men than women.

And, health experts explain these risks in the following ways:

- Some male health risks can be linked to behaviors. For instance, men typically engage in behaviors that commonly lead to greater instances of injury and disease.

- Research suggests men typically eat fewer healthy foods than women, making them more vulnerable to poor health outcomes.

- Generally speaking, women tend to gain weight in their hips and thighs, while men often gain weight in their midsection which puts them at a greater risk for heart disease

- Men lack the protective measures of hormones like estrogen, making them more vulnerable to both heart disease and neurological diseases. In fact, men are 50% more likely to develop Parkinson’s disease than women.

- Some scientists have even described men as being “biologically weaker” due to their propensity to develop diseases either more often than women, earlier, or to a greater degree of severity.

So, now that we know, for the most part, why men are prone to certain health concerns, let’s examine the top risks they face today.

1- Heart Disease

Heart disease is actually the greatest threat to both men and women in the United States; however, males are even more susceptible to this disease than women as they commonly develop heart disease much earlier than females.

Why?

Well, one of the biggest risk factors for heart disease is high cholesterol, and women naturally have higher levels of good, protective cholesterol as they produce estrogen.

Lacking this hormone, men typically have higher cholesterol levels, putting them at greater risk of heart disease.

Men also typically have apple-shaped bodies, carrying excess weight in their midsection.

This type of fat, in one’s midsection, is known as visceral fat, and it greatly increases the risk for developing heart disease.

Some symptoms of a heart attack include:

- Nausea
- Cold sweats
- Shortness of breath
- Upper body discomfort (one or both arms, back, neck, jaw, stomach)
- Chest discomfort (pressure, squeezing, fullness, or pain)

2- Cancer

Cancer is another major health risk for men, and there are a few specific types of cancer that threaten men the most.

According to the CDC, the leading causes of cancer death in men are lung, prostate, and colorectal cancer.

Smoking is considered to be one of the leading causes of lung cancer, and one in three men (compared to only 8% of women) smoke.

We’ll get to the ways coffee can combat this in a moment, but aside from this, one of the main preventative measures men can take in regards to lung cancer is to stop smoking.

Concerning both prostate and colorectal cancer, many experts believe prevention to be impossible; however, regular screenings are proven to increase early detection in both of these diseases, and this saves lives!

Some symptoms of lung cancer include:

- Shortness of breath
- Persistent cough
- Weight loss
- Wheezing
- Coughing up blood
- Chest pain

Some symptoms of prostate cancer include:

- Frequent need to urinate, especially at night
- Painful urination
- Difficulty starting urination
- Weak flow of urine
- Painful ejaculation
- Blood in urine or semen

Some symptoms of colorectal cancer include:

- Changes in bowel habits
- Chronic abdominal discomfort
- Weakness
- Fatigue
- Unexplained weight loss

3- Parkinson’s Disease

Men are at least 1.5 times more likely to develop Parkinson’s disease than women.

Scientists believe this may be due to the protective measures women receive from producing estrogen.

And, some studies have also led researchers to believe that “Parkinson’s disease may have a genetic link to the male X chromosome.”

Studies have failed to find a direct link to Parkinson’s prevention, but regular exercise and healthy nutrition are thought to be amongst potentially preventative measures.

Some symptoms of Parkinson’s disease include:

- Uncontrollable shaking
- Stiffening of muscles
- Difficulty moving or walking
- Trouble sleeping
- Loss of smell

4- Gout And Kidney Stones

Gout is a type of arthritis, and it is typically caused by a high concentration of uric acid in the body.

As women’s bodies seem to be better equipped at flushing out these excess levels of uric acid, men are more likely to be afflicted by gout.

Gout is often described as a “silent disease” as most people don’t realize they have it until they experience painful symptoms, such as pain, redness, and swelling in a joint (most commonly the big toe).

Those individuals with gout are also at a higher risk of developing kidney stones as extra uric acid can cause the formation of urate crystals which build up in the urinary tract and cause stones.

Proper hydration, weight management, avoiding alcohol and consuming red meats and sugar in moderation are said to reduce the risk of gout.

Other symptoms of gout include:

- Sudden severe pain in joints
- Tenderness in joints
- Discoloration or redness in affected joint

5- Depression/Suicide

Men account for 79% of all suicide deaths in the US, and depression is said to be one of the most important risk factors in suicide.

Unfortunately, male depression is commonly undiagnosed.

Men are less likely to seek help for depression, but men also experience depression differently than women, which makes this illness more difficult to recognize.

Meditation, talking to a trusted friend or professional, reducing stress, eating well, exercising, and avoiding the urge to self-medicate are all proven methods of reducing or preventing depression. (Thankfully, coffee can help too…more on that below.)

Some symptoms of depression, specifically in men, include:

- Fatigue
- Irritability or moodiness
- Slow changes in personality
- Feelings of worthlessness
- Sleep disturbances
- Loss of interest in work or activities

6- Diabetes

Men are almost twice as likely to develop type 2 diabetes as women.

Sugar intake, dietary patterns, smoking, alcohol consumption, and even where you carry excess weight all play a role in the development of diabetes.

So obviously, managing weight, eating a balanced, healthy diet, getting plenty of exercise, and avoiding smoking and alcohol are most commonly recommended as the best measures to prevent diabetes.

This disease is sometimes referred to as a silent killer because nearly a third of people with diabetes do not realize they have it.

Some symptoms of diabetes include:

- Frequent urination
- Excessive thirst
- Unexplained weight loss
- Excessive hunger
- Increased fatigue
- Blurred vision
- Irritability