Men's Health - Defense Centers for Public Health

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) External Link , the average lifespan for men is 6 years less than for women. Per CDC, in 2022 men on average lived 73.5 years while for women it was 79.3 years.

The CDC reports heart disease and cancer as leading causes of death among men, and cites leading risks among men 18 years and older, as follows:

Alcohol consumption including binge drinking. 30.9% of men had 5 or more drinks in 1 day at least once within the past year.
Physical Activity Among Adults Aged 18 and Over: United States, 2020. Over 60% of men did not get the recommended weekly aerobic and muscle-strengthening exercises. Aerobic activity is 150 minutes of moderate, or 75 minutes of vigorous activity per week. Muscle-strengthening activity as with weights, is 2 times a week.
Smoking. Over 13% of adult men still report smoking.
Obesity. 40% men aged 20 were obese according to a 2017-March 2020 survey.
High Blood Pressure (Hypertension). Defined as elevated blood pressure and/or taking antihypertensive medication. 50.5% adult males reported having high blood pressure during a 2017-March 2020 survey.

Men can modify their behaviors to reduce these risk factors that can lead to the development of chronic health conditions.

NEW & Popular in Men's Health

News article: Fight fat as you age (June 2023)
Did You Know? Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a common virus typically spread through sexual contact. Some strains cause genital warts, while other strains can lead to certain types of cancer among women (e.g., cervical cancer) and men (e.g. throat, anal cancer). The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that every year more than 15,000 men in the U.S. get cancers caused by HPV. These cancers caused by certain viral strains of HPV are considered largely preventable by getting the HPV vaccine. If not fully vaccinated as a child, per CDC guidelines both males and females beginning at age 9 up to 45 years old should get three doses of the HPV vaccine.
Vaccine Questions? Check with the Defense Health Agency Immunization Healthcare Division (DHA-IHD). Active duty service members are required to get certain vaccines, while other vaccines are recommended. Some vaccines are recommended for the international traveler as part of deployment and travel medicine. The goal of immunization is for the service member to benefit from immunizations that help prevent certain diseases (vaccine-preventable diseases). Some immunizations may be required by the Combatant Commands as part of their theater-entry requirements. See CDC-recommended vaccines for adults. Also see additional vaccines for country-specific and Areas of Responsibility (AOR) threats to protect the DOD. Check out DHA-IHD “What's New" section for updates within the last 30 days and the mobile app for the Immunization Tool Kit (ITK) for military policy, national recommendations, scientific evidence and clinical guidelines.
Steroids and Supplement Use: Though anabolic steroids are illegal for service members, some are tempting to use to build muscle quickly or to enhance athletic performance. However, evidence shows that anabolic steroids are associated with numerous serious health problems. The National Institute on Drug Abuse states that anabolic steroids can cause severe, long-lasting and in some cases irreversible damage that can lead to early heart attacks, strokes, liver tumors, kidney failure, and psychiatric problems. Certain "nutritional" supplements can also have adverse health risks. Go HERE for details.

Fitness and Injury Prevention

For information on the Army Combat Fitness Test (ACFT), Army fitness standards, and injury prevention, click HERE.

Health Monitoring Services and Tests

The key to maximizing your health is to be proactive. Learn about men's preventive care and tests HERE.

Sexual Health

For information on sexual health, click HERE.