June is officially Men’s Health Month, with Men’s Health Week coming up from June 14 – 20, 2021 with the goal of increasing awareness of preventable health conditions for men and boys.
As we all know, early detection of serious illnesses can save lives. Men’s Health Week aims to encourage men and boys to get tested early for prevalent diseases. By promoting it through multiple media channels using a platform like HealthLink, life science companies and creative agencies can be part of the solution to help men and boys live healthier lives.
Let’s look at a few diseases that can be prevented or cured with early detection and diagnosis, along with some breakthrough prescription drugs that are helping men overcome them.
Top Health Risks for Men and Boys
Men are, overall, reluctant to go to the doctor. Studies show that 65 percent of men admit to waiting as long as possible to go to the doctor. That’s why it’s so important to raise awareness about early detection for preventable diseases like these.
Cardiovascular Disease
While all genders are at risk of developing cardiovascular disease, men are more likely to develop atherosclerosis, which is the narrowing and hardening of your arteries, at an earlier age than women.
Because of this, men should start getting regular cholesterol screenings beginning at age 25. Lipitor is arguably the most significant blockbuster drug for pharma in the last 25 years to treat high cholesterol and heart disease. Other statins like Zocor and Crestor could also be prescribed to lower LDL cholesterol.
Type 2 Diabetes
Men diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes are more likely to develop heart disease, have a stroke, or experience kidney failure than those without diabetes. This preventable disease can also affect adolescents, with an estimated 210,000 people under the age of 20 living with it in the U.S.
Getting screened early can help men and boys learn if they are pre-diabetic so they can adjust their lifestyles to prevent getting diabetes. Men with diabetes are usually prescribed insulin to moderate their blood sugar levels. They may also be prescribed Metformin, Sulfonylureas, Glinides, Thiazolidinediones, DPP-4 inhibitors, GLP-1 receptor agonists, or SGLT2 inhibitors.
Prostate Health
Several prostate diseases can impact men’s health, including prostate cancer, prostatitis, and Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (more commonly known as an enlarged prostate). Men should start getting their prostate checked at age 40.
Drugs that can improve prostate function due to an enlarged prostate include alpha-blockers, 5-Alpha Reductase Inhibitors, and Phosphodiesterase-5 Inhibitors. The drug Relugolix will come on the market in 2021 and is expected to be a pharma blockbuster for late-stage prostate cancer.
Use HealthLink Dimensions to Connect with Providers and More
Raising awareness about preventable diseases can encourage men and boys to get tested and screened for these conditions. By promoting Men’s Health Week, we can all work together to improve the likelihood that men and boys get early treatment for common conditions so they can go on to live long, fulfilling lives.
As a data provider and communications partner, HealthLink Dimensions can help life science companies connect with internists, cardiologists, neurologists, and more through programmatic, email, and mobile platforms. Learn more about how we help life science organizations and the agencies that represent them.