This Movember, let’s shine the spotlight on men’s health issues

It may not seem like it, but science has repeatedly proven that men are the weaker sex.

Physical strength aside, men generally have a shorter life expectancy than their female counterparts. In fact, men are also more susceptible to health illnesses and falling ill at a younger age.

This Movember, let’s take a moment to understand the most urgent health issues that men face, and how we can fight them together.

Speaking of health issues, a good place to start would be Cancer, Heart Attack and Stroke, especially since they make up 90% of critical illness claims¹ in Singapore and are also amongst the nation’s top killers.

Cancer rates amongst men are on the rise

In the last 40 years, cancer rates have been on the rise in Singapore – an unsurprising occurrence given the increasingly sedentary lifestyles we now live.. Prostate cancer, one of the most common cancers among men in particular, has increased five-fold!

But there’s good news – despite the increased diagnosis of cancer, we’re surviving them at a much higher rate too.

The statistics for younger men are promising, with an average 5-year survival rate of 83.7% if you are between the ages of 15-34. Even if you’re between the ages of 35-65, the average rate of 68.7% looks rather promising as well.

With earlier detection and treatment, plus an increased awareness of such issues affecting men, it’s no wonder we’re better able to fight against cancer.

Men are twice as likely to get a heart attack

Likewise, heart attacks here have also been on the rise.

Compared to women, men are twice as likely to be affected by heart attacks. In 2018 66.76% of heart attack incidences were by males, while 33.24% were by females².

And lest you think that only older folks get heart attacks, 29.44%³ of all heart attacks for men occur between the ages 40 to 59, which goes to show that even relatively ‘young’ men are not exempted.

But the scariest statistic is still the 30-Day Fatality Rate, where 62 out of every 1000 males affected by heart attacks die within 30 days; that’s hardly enough time to say your goodbyes, much less prepare your family for a life without you.

Strokes aren’t as common, but they’re very deadly

While strokes may not be as common as the two illnesses above, it’s another illness that affects men more than women. 59.5% of all strokes occur in men as compared to 40.5% in women⁴.

Now, death from stroke might be lower, but it’s important to consider that the recovery for stroke is long and trying – this process can and will affect your ability to function in everyday life.

For stroke patients who survive, their biggest concern is often the limited capacity to work and earn an income due to reduced bodily functions.

So, what can men do?

When it comes to cancer, heart attack, and stroke, the usual culprits are:

• Smoking
• Unhealthy diets
• Lack of exercise
• Late detection

The few ways to counter them are simple.

• Avoid tobacco in all its forms
• Eat a healthy balanced diet (more greens and fruits and less red meat, high sodium, sweet and sugary drinks)
• Exercise regularly (30 minutes of moderate exercise every day and strength training twice or thrice a week)
• Limiting alcohol intake to one or two drinks a day at most
• Get regular medical checkups (once every 2 years before the age of 40 and once every year after that including a prostate exam)
• Be more open to medical care and talk about your health concerns.

Do not stay silent.

Men often face the societal pressure to put on a brave front when faced with stress, mental health and physical health issues.

Unfortunately, this leads to many men suffering in silence and ignoring their well-being. To them, it may not seem “manly” to seek help, even when it’s truly a huge concern.

For that reason, illnesses in men are usually detected much later and in advanced stages as compared to women – affecting their chances of recovery!

But what if these 3 illnesses were to happen?

We’ve discussed incidence rates and death rates, but the next big concern when it comes to falling ill will always be the financial impact it leaves.

While the advancement of medical care has improved overall survival rates, the harsh reality is that income usually takes a hard stop while you are taking time to recover. For most, it could take between 3 to 5 years to fully recover.

This is where insurance plays an important part to protect you against this loss of income due to the big three illnesses.

This is why FWD introduced the Big 3 Critical Illness Insurance plan

FWD Big 3 Critical Illness insurance plan covers you for the 3 most common causes of critical illness claims from as low as 1/3 the cost⁵ of a regular critical illness plan
With a 100% payout upon a claim for all stages of cancer, you can focus on your recovery without worrying about your loved ones.

We’ve made it simple by removing the need for a medical examination so you can enjoy comprehensive and affordable coverage without any excuse for procrastination. All you need is one simple health declaration!

There’s no doubt that men have to be strong – strong for our families, our loved ones and our jobs.

But being strong doesn’t always mean staying silent.

Sometimes it means talking about your problems, seeking help, staying healthy and making preparations to hedge against uncertainty.

Afterall, being strong means protecting ourselves so that we can get even stronger in the future.

Find out more about  FWD Big 3 Critical Illness insurance !