Men’s Health
Men are at higher risk for many serious diseases, including heart disease, lung cancer, and HIV. Men also face unique health problems that don’t affect women, like prostate cancer. To improve men’s health, it’s important for men of all ages to be aware about preventive screenings and regular health care.
Having a better understanding of your body and your needs is important for your overall health and well-being. While your doctor is your best partner in making healthy changes and providing specialized care, this page provides information about specific health issues and how they affect men.
Click on a topic below to learn more:
Mental Health
Taking care of your mental health is important to your overall well-being. Depression is a medical condition more than 20% of men have experienced at some point in their lives*. Men may have signs or symptoms of depression that are easier to recognize. They may feel sad or hopeless, have difficulty sleeping, or not find pleasure in activities they usually enjoy. But other behaviors may also be signs of depression in men, including:
- Irritability or inappropriate anger
- Physical issues, like headaches or digestive issues
- Spending more time at work or other places to avoid being home
- Risky behavior, like reckless driving
- Problems with alcohol or drug use
Asking for help can be hard. But without treatment, depression isn’t likely to go away and could get worse. If you are experiencing symptoms of depression, contact your care team to talk about how you’re feeling and what treatment options may be available. Vaya’s Mental Health Screening is a free, online tool that can help you determine if your recent thoughts or behaviors may be related to depression. The program is completely confidential and anonymous. You’ll see your results, as well as recommendations and resources, immediately after you complete the questionnaire.
If you need urgent support, you can call Vaya’s Behavioral Health Crisis Line 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 1-800-849-6127.
*The most recent results, obtained Feb. 21-28, 2023, are based on 5,167 U.S. adults surveyed as part of the Gallup Panel, a probability-based panel of about 100,000 adults across all 50 states and the District of Columbia.
If you or someone you know is currently in crisis, get help as soon as possible. If any warning signs apply to you or someone you know, reach out, especially if the behavior is new or has increased recently.
- Call or text the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988 for 24-hour, confidential support and specific resources with considerations for veterans and survivors of attempt, disaster, and loss. There are also resources with considerations for cultural background, gender, race or ethnicity, LGBTQ+ identity, disability, religious affiliation, and age.
- Call 911 in emergency and life-threatening situations.
- Call Vaya’s Behavioral Health Crisis Line at 1-800-849-6127, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Physical Health
Cancer is a concern for anyone. Lung, prostate, colorectal, and skin cancers pose a greater risk for men. Fortunately, many of the risk factors for these cancers are things you can control, such as:
- Stop the use of tobacco and avoid secondhand smoke exposure
- Avoid exposure to chemicals or toxins, like asbestos or radon
- Lower the amount of fat in your diet and maintaining a healthy weight
- Use SPF lotion and avoid unprotected sun exposure
Other risk factors may be out of your control, but it is important to talk about them with your doctor. Examples of other risk factors include:
- Air pollution
- Age
- Race
- Family history
To learn more about lowering your risk for cancer and getting screenings, visit the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) links Your Life, Your Lifestyle: How Men Can Lower Their Chance of Getting Cancer and Men, Cancer, and Culture: How Our Culture Can Help Men Lower Their Cancer Risk.
Heart disease is the leading cause of death for men in the U.S. Heart disease includes any issues with your heart, its valves, and circulation. Sometimes heart disease can be symptomless or “silent” for a long time. You may not be aware of a problem until you are experiencing symptoms of a heart attack, heart failure, or an arrhythmia. Some risk factors for heart disease include:
- Age
- Family history of heart disease
- Smoking
- High cholesterol
- High blood pressure (hypertension)
- Being overweight
- Diabetes
Lifestyle changes can lower your risk for heart disease. Being proactive and making good choices to improve your wellness are factors in preventing heart disease and other health conditions. Some things you can do to lessen your risk include:
- Get regular blood pressure checks
- Stop using tobacco
- Get a screening for diabetes
- Monitor your cholesterol and triglyceride levels
- Maintain a healthy weight
- Eat healthy and get regular physical activity
- Limit drinking
- Manage stress
To learn more, the CDC provides detailed information and links to resources for Men and Heart Disease.
The prostate is a gland located just below the bladder. As part of the male reproductive system, the prostate produces fluid that makes up semen. Prostate cancer occurs when cells in the prostate grow out of control. Symptoms vary from person to person, but it is important to let your doctor know if you are experiencing any of the following:
- Difficulty starting urination
- Weak or interrupted flow of urine
- Urinating often, especially at night
- Trouble completely emptying your bladder
- Pain or burning during urination
- Blood in your urine or semen
- Pain in your back, hips, or pelvis that doesn’t go away
- Painful ejaculation
All men are at risk for prostate cancer and the chance of getting prostate cancer increases as you get older. African American men and men with a family history of prostate cancer have an increased risk. If you are concerned about your risk, talk to your doctor about screening for prostate cancer.
Ischemic (uh·skee·muhk) strokes occur when the blood flow to the brain is stopped or reduced, cutting off the flow of oxygen that the brain needs. Having heart disease or other heart-related concerns can increase your risk of ischemic stroke. Ischemic strokes share many risk factors with heart disease, such as age, tobacco use, high cholesterol and blood pressure, weight, physical inactivity, and diabetes.
Ischemic strokes are a leading cause of long-term disability and death for men. Taking the following actions can lower your risk of ischemic stroke:
- Regular physical activity
- Regular blood pressure checks and managing your blood pressure
- Tobacco cessation
- Healthy eating
- Managing cholesterol as directed by your doctor
To learn more, the CDC provides detailed information and links to resources for Men and Stroke.
Other Information for Men to Manage Their Health
There are many things you can do to improve your overall health and prevent health conditions. It is important to make regular visits to your doctor and have regular screenings as recommended by your health care provider. Always talk to your doctor and work with your care team to stick to the prescribed plan to get your health under control. Visit the following wellness pages to learn additional ways to stay healthy.
Vaya Total Care Perks is here to support qualifying Medicaid members with value-added services at no cost, so you can live the life you choose.
Your doctor will advise you on what tests and preventive screenings you may need. These can include:
- Prostate exam
- Colorectal exams, such as colonoscopy and testing for blood in your stool
- Blood tests such as cholesterol, hemoglobin A1C (a blood test for abnormal blood sugars), hepatitis screening, and other tests as recommended by your doctor.