By: Daisy Cabrera

DID YOU KNOW that American men live sicker and die younger than American women? Or, that men are four times more likely than women to commit suicide? Isn’t it surprising that men suffer hearing loss at two times the rate of women? Were you aware that testosterone is linked to elevations of LDL (bad cholesterol) and declines in HDL (good cholesterol)? Consider this - men have fewer infection-fighting T-cells and are considered to generally have weaker immune systems than women.

June marks “Men’s Health Month,” and is supported by health education programs, fairs, screenings, and other activities geared towards achieving and sustaining better health measures among men. The ten leading causes of death among young men include accidents, homicide, suicide, AIDS, cancer, heart disease, pneumonia and influenza, cirrhosis of the liver, congenital abnormalities and stroke. Most health problems men suffer from are preventable with regular medical visits, early detection and treatment, and this is the time to explore conditions affecting our Hispanic men:

Hispanic men were 13% less likely to have prostate cancer as non-Hispanic white men.

Mexican American men were 30% less likely to die from heart disease, as compared to non- Hispanic white men.

Hispanic men have over three times the AIDS rate as non-Hispanic white males.