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Social Factors for Differences in Men's Health

A man's health is a combination of genetic makeup and environmental factors. Environmental factors include social and lifestyle choices that can contribute greatly to a man's overall health. Often these social choices and factors can be both the leading cause of health problems and the easiest things to change to improve health.

  1. Types of Social Factors

    • Many types of social factors contribute to overall health, but they can be grouped into a few general categories. Some of the most important contributors are a man's diet, his exercise level and his lifestyle risk factors. Components of each of these categories can be the entire difference between a healthy and unhealthy person, and these components can often be changed with some effort and will power.

    Diet

    • A man's diet consists of the sum of food he eats in a day. The typical dietary intake is 2000 calories, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, but the source of those calories is also very important. Eating a diet that is high in saturated fats and simple sugars can contribute to development of heart disease, the leading killer of men in the United States. Replacement of some fats and fried foods with healthier lean meat and fruits and vegetables is an easy way to change social impact on health.

    Exercise Level

    • A man's exercise level directly affects his overall health. An active lifestyle that consists of daily activity and heart rate elevation can decrease the risk of heart disease and related conditions. Steady exercise schedules can be difficult to maintain, so there are a few important tips to keep it going. First, exercise early in the day. Second, exercise in a group if possible. Third, exercise by doing something you enjoy.

    Risk Factors

    • This broad category covers many risky social behaviors that can be associated with men's health. The first risk factor is smoking, which has been shown to correlate with lung and heart diseases. The second is alcohol consumption. While moderate alcohol intake can be healthy for many people, overdoing it can have detrimental effects, especially for those with other risk factors. The final risk category is taking part in risky activities such as unprotected sexual intercourse, which can lead to contraction of serious diseases. If you minimize risky behavior, your overall health should improve.

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