If you're a male and you're reading this,congratulations:you're a survivor.According to statistics,you're more than twice as likely to die of skin cancer as a woman,and nine times more likely to die of AIDS.Assuming you make it to the end of your natural term,about 78 years for men in Australia, you'll die on average five years before a woman. There're many reasons for this--typically,men take more risks than women and are more likely to drink and smoke--but perhaps more importantly,men don't go to the doctor. "Men aren't seeing doctors as often as they should."says Dr Gullotta."This is particularly so for the over-40s,when diseases tend to strike." Gullotta says a healthy man should visit the doctor every year or two.For those over 45,it should be at least once a year. According to a recent survey,95% of women aged between 15 and early 40s see a doctor once a year,compared to 70% of men in the same age group. "A lot of men think they're invincible ,",Gullotta says."They only come in when a friend drops dead on the golf course and they think,'Geez,if it could happen to him...'" "Then there's the ostrich approach.Some men are scared of what might be there and would rather not know,"says Dr Ross Cartmill. "Most men get their cars serviced more regularly than they service their bodies,"Cartmill says.He believes most diseases that commonly affect men could be addressed by preventive check-ups. "Regular check-ups for men would surely place strain on the public purse,"Cartmill says."But prevention is cheaper in the long run than having to treat the disease.Besides,the final cost is far greater:it's called premature death." What does the author think is the most important reason why men die five years earlier on average than women?
Men drink and smoke much more than women. Men don't seek medical care as often as women. Men aren't as careful as women in face of danger Men are more likely to suffer from serious disease