5 health conditions men need to know about

5 health conditions men need to know about

Get to know these conditions that are much more likely to affect men than women

Slide 1 of 6Next

Heart disease

Heart disease, also called coronary artery disease, is the number-one killer of Canadians. The basic mechanism of heart disease is a buildup of cholesterol-laden plaque (a fatty deposit) inside the coronary arteries, the blood vessels that carry oxygen-rich blood to the heart. Plaque narrows the inner channel of the vessels and makes them less flexible. This process is called atherosclerosis, or hardening of the arteries. As normal blood flow to your heart is restricted, you may experience angina (chest pain). If a clot forms or lodges inside a narrowed artery, it can completely cut off blood flow and cause a heart attack. Heart disease is often “silent”—producing no symptoms—until it causes a heart attack.

Both your genes and your lifestyle habits contribute to heart disease. Risks include: 
Gender: Men are more vulnerable to heart disease than women.
Being over age 55 or post-menopausal for women.
Family history of heart disease.
Personal history of a heart attack.
Ethnicity – people of African, Latin American, or Asian descent.

Learn more about heart disease