Gender Matters: Aging Men's Health

摘要: It is common knowledge that the United States and other nations will shortly confront impact of aging pig-in-the-python Boom generation on social institutions. With this unprecedented increase in proportion older adults comes a need to better understand unique healthcare, care, health-promotion needs midlife men. Unfortunately, too few professionals geriatrics gerontology have paid attention men as or sought their worlds from perspective appreciates how much gender matters meaning later life (Calasanti, 2004; Thompson, 1994). The inattention has, turn, left many trajectories uncharted established guidelines best assess manage practical implications for health age. time right an issue Generations devoted more complete understanding men's health. Year by year since 1900, expectancy has gradually improved, rising average 48 years 1900 75.2 2004 (Kinsella Gist, 1998; Minino et al., 2007;). Fifty-year-old are now expected reach age 81, 60-year-old can anticipate living at least 82 (Arias, 2007). Life opportunity be old increased primarily because "upstream" improvements public fewer deaths unintentional accidents, respiratory diseases, pneumonia (McKinlay, 1975; However, these initiatives, medical advances, workplace reforms were benefit status women than A life-expectancy gap two grew four one-half 1940; mid 19705, had seven longer Even though begun narrow, higher death rates all fifteen leading causes and, average, still five younger man do (Minino For men, age-adjusted rate death, heart disease cancer, one times greater women; Parkinson's, liver disease, greater; suicide, greater. gradual extension longevity was accompanied parallel number with chronic illness often, conditions well (e.g., Natarajan 2003). Trend analyses reveal notable patterns. There evidence decline morbidity-free expectancy; consequently, Ptrenboom colleagues (2005) argue worsening earlier ages, maybe slower women's. Evidence National Institute Aging's Long-Term Care Survey also shows significant rise women's physical functioning occurred between 1982 incidence disability dropped (Manton, Gu, Lamb, 2006); however, morbidity smaller women, except case 85 ( Winblad 2001). MAN MAINTENANCE Little known about why improved significantly women. Clinical researchers identified host biological environmental factors influencing longevity, including hormones like cortisol testosterone lack adequate healthcare. No doubt such partly explain sex differences But if relationships not fully examined, it might presumed natural inevitable. They not. To demonstrate, 1970$, died ages compared principally increases ischemie lung cancer among In considering possible reasons mis difference, explained due early adoption cigarette smoking. …