In honor of Men’s Health Month, we asked Dr. Damian Sorce, MD, a board-certified urologist at The Medical Center of Aurora, to share his thoughts on what men should know about their health. “It is a well-known fact that men don’t like going to the doctor, but preventive care and regular doctor visits, which include routine screenings, are important if a man wants to stay healthy as he ages,” says Dr. Sorce. Below are some facts provided by Dr. Sorce that we hope will motivate men to be active participants in their health. Men have a shorter life expectancy than women. The average life expectancy of men is 76.4 years compared to the average life expectancy for women of 81.2 years. Watch your weight. Almost 3 in 4 men are overweight. Maintaining a healthy weight, eating healthy as well as being active for 30 minutes a day, 5 days a week reduces your risk of diabetes, cancer and heart disease. Maintaining a healthy weight and exercising are the most important things you can do to help yourself stay healthy. Heart disease is the number one killer of men. Half of all men who die from coronary heart disease experienced no symptoms. Cancer is the second leading cause of death in men. The most common cancers among men are skin, prostate, lung and colorectal cancers. Check for prostate cancer: Those with a family history of prostate cancer should begin having an annual PSA blood test in their 40s, others in their 50’s. Know your numbers. Cholesterol, blood pressure, PSA and testosterone are all easily checked. Seeing your doctor and having these monitored are critical for preventing and catching a disease early. According to Dr. Sorce, “Keeping up with routine screenings and maintaining a healthy diet and weight are great ways to stay healthy, and live longer.” To learn more about Dr. Sorce, please click here.