The Big Picture: Dr. Puja Uppal says, “…the life expectancy gap between men and women in the U.S. has significantly widened…”
Doctor’s Expert Insights About Men’s Health in Georgia
Know this: “This widening life expectancy gap is largely being driven by COVID and drug overdoses. There’s no doubt about it, this signals that our men are experiencing a health and mental health emergency. As healthcare providers, we need to have a larger conversation about how we can, as a society, engage men in preventative measures for these specific risks. Stuff like the importance of vaccinations, managing comorbidities, mental health support, and substance abuse prevention and treatment need to be talked about more in the open.” Dr. Shelandra Bell, Family Medicine.
Watch a Short Video about Signs of Depression in Men
Health Standard Newswire: Expert Insights
Health Alert for Atlanta
Key Drivers in DeKalb County:
Factors contributing to this gap in life expectancies between men and women include a higher male mortality rate from COVID-19 and drug overdoses. “Between 2019 and 2021, the life expectancy in the United States dropped from around 79 to 76 years,” indicating a significant public health challenge.
This research suggests that management of public health, particularly in addressing gender-specific health risks and disparities, is going to continue to be important.
What they’re saying: “This analysis finds that COVID-19 and the drug-overdose epidemic were major contributors to the widening gender gap in life expectancy in recent years. Men experienced higher COVID-19 death rates for likely multifactorial reasons, including higher burden of comorbidities and differences in health behaviors and socioeconomic factors, such as labor force participation, incarceration, and homelessness. Differentially worsening mortality from diabetes, heart disease, homicide, and suicide suggest that chronic metabolic disease and mental illness may also contribute. The increase in overdose deaths,…
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