According to recent research from The Commonwealth Fund, a non-profit organization that focuses on public health concerns, American men are sicker and die earlier than men living in other affluent countries. The study included males from the United States, Switzerland, Norway, New Zealand, Germany, Australia, the United Kingdom, France, the Netherlands, Canada, and Sweden.
It was discovered that American men have among the greatest rates of unnecessary deaths, chronic illnesses, and mental health requirements.
According to the survey, almost 29% of American men and 25% of Australian men reported having several chronic conditions, respectively. The lowest percentage of men was seen in France and Norway, where it was 17%.
Men see the doctor significantly less frequently than women do, according to the study’s authors, for a variety of reasons, including stubbornness, a dislike of looking weak or vulnerable, and others.
In addition, American males are more likely than men in the other ten nations featured in the report to die from preventable causes, which are defined as deaths that occur before the age of 75.
According to the study, income inequality has an impact on people’s health as well. Men with lower earnings tend to engage in harmful behaviors like drinking and smoking more frequently, which can contribute to chronic diseases like diabetes, obesity, and heart disease.
Low-wage employees are less likely to be able to afford proper treatment and are less likely to be able to see a doctor frequently, which can lead to health problems getting worse, according to the study. Low-income men who are stressed out are less likely to have a regular doctor.
Since the United States is the only industrialized country without universal healthcare, men often put off seeking the care they require because of the exorbitant expenses, according to studies. The authors noted that over 16 million American males lack health insurance and that the most frequent justification given for this situation is price.
Only 37% of American males give the country’s healthcare system a good rating, indicating that they don’t think much of it either. Only 32% of males with incomes below the national average approve of the healthcare system, which is much worse.
There was a bright spot for American guys. The United States offers extensive cancer testing and cutting-edge therapies, and as a result, they have the lowest percentage of prostate cancer-related mortality among the other investigated nations, according to the study’s authors.