Men are typically stronger than women. They, on average, carry 61 percent more muscle mass than their female counterparts and exhibit lower levels of power. That strength doesn’t necessarily equate to a longer life, though — according to the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), women have a higher life expectancy than men.
These statistics highlight some of the leading health issues among the male population in the U.S.:
- Heart disease remains the leading cause of death among men, accounting for approximately 1 in 4 male deaths.
- Men have higher rates of getting and dying from cancer than women.
- Prostate cancer affects 1 in 8 men, with higher rates among African American men and Caribbean men of African ancestry than in men of other races.
- Men aged 15-65 are significantly less likely than women to seek preventive care.
- Roughly 1 in 10 men experience depression or anxiety, but less than half receive treatment.
- Men are nearly four times more likely to die by suicide than women.
Men’s Health Month is a month-long campaign celebrated every June in the U.S. to highlight the importance of male health awareness and early intervention. This annual observance aims to raise awareness about preventable health problems affecting men while encouraging them to take proactive steps toward better health through education and preventive care. It focuses on mitigating barriers that prevent men from seeking healthcare and contribute to higher mortality rates among males.
Primary Preventive Health Screenings for Men
Preventive screenings are crucial for detecting diseases early when they are most treatable. As we mentioned in a previous blog, the U.S. National Cancer Institute (NCI) found that a 10 percentage point increase in the uptake of screening strategies recommended by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) could yield a one percent reduction in lung cancer deaths, a 21 percent reduction in colorectal cancer deaths, a four percent reduction in breast cancer deaths and a 40 percent reduction in cervical cancer deaths.
The following lists indicate the appropriate screenings for men by age:
Young Men (Ages 18-39)
- Annual wellness visits to establish baselines for blood pressure, cholesterol, and overall health
- Mental health assessments and depression screenings, as young adult males face high suicide risk
- Testicular self-examinations and awareness of cancer symptoms
- STI testing as appropriate based on sexual activity
- Skin examinations for unusual moles or changes
- Vaccination updates including HPV, hepatitis, and COVID-19
- Blood pressure checks at least every two years, more frequently if readings are elevated
Middle-Aged Men (Ages 40-64)
- Prostate cancer screening discussions starting at age 50 (or 45 for high-risk men)
- Colorectal cancer screening beginning at age 45
- Diabetes screening every three years
- Heart disease risk assessments
- Skin cancer examinations and dermatology consultations
- Depression and anxiety screenings
- Lung cancer screening for long-term smokers
- Eye examinations for glaucoma and vision changes
- Regular dental checkups to monitor gum disease, which correlates with heart health
Older Men (Ages 65+)
- Annual comprehensive geriatric assessments
- Bone density screenings for osteoporosis
- Vision and hearing evaluations
- Cognitive health assessments
- Cardiovascular health monitoring
- Fall risk assessments
- Updated vaccination schedules, including shingles and pneumonia vaccines
- Prostate health monitoring
- Abdominal aortic aneurysm screening for men who have smoked
A digital health tool increasingly utilized by medical groups to remind patients to schedule preventive screenings is agentic artificial intelligence (AI). Agentic AI enables healthcare providers to engage patients effectively at scale throughout their care journey and can be customized to personalize patient interactions while preserving privacy and reducing disparities.
Mental Health Awareness and Support
Nearly one in five men lives with some type of mental health condition. However, fewer males with serious mental illness receive treatment.
Men’s mental health presents unique challenges, especially because many men express psychological distress differently than women. Symptoms of mental disorders in men consist of:
- Anger, irritability, or aggressiveness
- Noticeable changes in mood, energy level, or appetite
- Difficulty sleeping or sleeping too much
- Difficulty concentrating, feeling restless, or on edge
- Increased worry or feeling stressed
- Misuse of alcohol, drugs, or both
- Persistent sadness or feelings of hopelessness
- Feeling flat or having trouble feeling positive emotions
- Engaging in high-risk activities
- Aches, headaches, or digestive problems without a clear cause
- Obsessive thinking or compulsive behavior
- Thoughts or behaviors that interfere with work, family, or social life
- Thoughts of death or suicide or suicide attempts
The theme of Men’s Health Month 2025 is closing the Empathy Gap in men’s health. As the Men’s Health Network notes, the Empathy Gap refers to the lack of care, funding and support for men’s issues, including emotional well-being.
Many encounter multiple barriers to seeking mental health treatment, such as dominant masculine ideals, poor mental health knowledge, societal and self-stigma, a lack of men-centered services and clinician biases, stereotypes and discomfort due to rigid assumptions regarding common male behaviors and responses. Males may hesitate to express their emotions, fear being perceived as weak and/or feel ashamed or embarrassed to seek help.
Although the growing demand for mental health services along with the shortage of qualified practitioners has led to longer wait times and limited access to care for many individuals, Agentic AI is emerging as a powerful tool to alleviate these pressures by breaking down traditional barriers to mental health treatment. AI-powered tools offer 24/7 mental health support to patients, ensuring they can access resources and assistance at any time, regardless of office hours, and provide a private and confidential method for men to seek mental health support.
Agentic AI: Transforming Men’s Healthcare Experience
The growing use of digital health tools is breaking down common barriers — time constraints, privacy concerns and discomfort discussing sensitive health issues — that prevent men from seeking medical attention. In addition to being utilized to remind patients to schedule preventive screenings and provide confidential mental health support, agentic AI can be employed for:
- Health education: Deliver personalized and relevant health information based on age, risk factors and specific concerns, making education accessible whenever men have questions.
- Appointment scheduling: Simplify finding available appointments, reducing the friction that keeps many men from scheduling regular checkups.
- Medication adherence: Bolster smart reminders and check-ins that support men in following treatment plans, particularly for chronic conditions.
At Providertech, our agentic AI solution is designed to understand the way patients — male and female – communicate and adapt accordingly. Providertech.ai automatically answers incoming calls 24/7 using advanced agentic AI, scheduling and updating appointments and providing immediate responses to patients’ commonly asked questions.
By meeting healthcare consumers’ expectations for a seamless experience, we produce happy patients every single call, every single time. Listen to a sample recording today to learn more!
