Why Men Die First: How to Lengthen Your Lifespan
It is a universal fact that men die before women. But the causes of this have long remained unexplored. Why Men Die First examines the reasons that men are more susceptible to illness and explains what they need to do to live longer. Bestselling author and professor of clinical medicine at Columbia University, Dr. Marianne Legato delves into problems that both men and women care about, including:\ * How men's reluctance to speak frankly to their physicians can kill them * The hormonal shift...
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It is a universal fact that men die before women. But the causes of this have long remained unexplored. In this trailblazing book, Dr. Marianne Legato—an expert in gender specific health—examines the reasons behind men's fragility and explains what they need to do to live longer. A bestselling author and Professor of Medicine at Columbia University, Dr. Legato shows how the forces of culture and biology conspire against male mortality. Drawing on the latest research and narrated through the lives of her patients, she delves into problems that both men and women care about— from why the male fetus is at greater risk, to why boys have a hard time adjusting to school, to how elevated levels of the stress hormone cortisol make men more prone to aggression and why they are more likely to die from cardiac arrest or cancer and even depression. Why Men Die First offers specific advice on what men can do to live better, including * how on-one time with young boys reduces anixiety and attention deficit problems* lifestyle changes that can prevent cardiovascular disease and osteoporosis* why young men take on high risk endeavors and how to decrease the stress* how to cope with mid life depression and feelings of emasculation and uselessness* how testosterone shots can mitigate the unpleasant symptoms of agingDr. Legato brings the possibility of both mental and physical wellbeing to men in this compelling and inspiring book. A superstar physician, celebrated annually in New York Magazine's Best Doctors Issue, Dr. Legato is well poised to take on this urgent topic with her unimpeachable authority and natural warmth. Publishers Weekly Legato, a physician and one of the founders of gender specific medicine, provides a broad-brush look at the relative fragility of men who "at every point of their lives die an average of seven years earlier than women." Much of the book will be familiar to anyone who read John Gray's Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus (or, indeed, Legato's own Why Men Never Remember and Women Never Forget), emphasizing the debatable notions that men and boys are aggressive where most women are team players, and that women value "the ambiance of the workplace and their relationship with other workers" over attaining power within a corporate structure. She breaks newer ground when she examines the genetics; the Y chromosome, she contends, may be more vulnerable to mutation, leading her to ponder whether "men have a future," or might disappear in 125,000 years (on the other hand, it may be that "the Y drives evolution"). Later chapters look at depression, diseases, sports and work as they relate to men. Though a well-sourced overview, Legato's attempt to give readers a "new view of men" suffers from a lack of fresh perspective. Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Acknowledgments ixForeword xiThe Strong, Powerful-and More Vulnerable-Male 1Beginnings: Surviving the Womb and the First Weeks of Life 19Educating Boys: How Well Are We Doing? 47The Male Adolescent: The Dangerous Gulf between Impulse and Judgment 65Male Depression: Its Causes, Expression, and Treatment 81The Male Libido: Men and Sex 107Hitting 40: New Challenges 127Men and Cancer 159Sports: The Price Men Pay 175Men's Work: What Are the Hazards? 189Andropause and the Aging Male 201Coda 223Notes 227Index 249
\ From the Publisher"This clearly written book, with its informative coverage of the male perspective on gender-specific medicine—and ironically written by a female physician—is a good purchase for public libraries and consumer health collections" —Library Journal "A vital and rewarding book...a fascinating as well as practical look at how men are both made (by biology) and shaped (by culture). Readers will be engaged and amazed by the discoveries and insights that modern medicine now possesses about the mysteries of gender. Dr. Legato has a gift for narrative and an ability to see into the human heart." —Diane Salvatore, Editor in Chief, Ladies’ Home Journal "Marianne Legato, who has devoted her career to studying the differences between the sexes, believes that the premature death of men is the most important—and neglected—health issue of our time. She has written a book for every man who wants to live longer and for the women and families who love them. Dr. Legato has started a much needed conversation we should all be having about how we can improve the health and longevity of men, who—at all ages—die before women."—Dr. Mehmet Oz, author of You: The Owner's Manual\ \ \ \ \ Publishers WeeklyLegato, a physician and one of the founders of gender specific medicine, provides a broad-brush look at the relative fragility of men who "at every point of their lives die an average of seven years earlier than women." Much of the book will be familiar to anyone who read John Gray's Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus (or, indeed, Legato's own Why Men Never Remember and Women Never Forget), emphasizing the debatable notions that men and boys are aggressive where most women are team players, and that women value "the ambiance of the workplace and their relationship with other workers" over attaining power within a corporate structure. She breaks newer ground when she examines the genetics; the Y chromosome, she contends, may be more vulnerable to mutation, leading her to ponder whether "men have a future," or might disappear in 125,000 years (on the other hand, it may be that "the Y drives evolution"). Later chapters look at depression, diseases, sports and work as they relate to men. Though a well-sourced overview, Legato's attempt to give readers a "new view of men" suffers from a lack of fresh perspective. \ Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.\ \ \ Library JournalLegato (clinical medicine, Columbia Univ.; Why Men Never Remember and Women Never Forget), a pioneer in the field of gender-specific medicine, here makes the surprising claim that men, "from the very moment of their conception until their death, are inherently more fragile and vulnerable than women." She draws on some of the following points to support her argument: males are more susceptible to instances of premature birth and low birth weight, more susceptible to developmental disabilities, and more likely to have autism. Not only is the fundamental biology of the male more vulnerable than that of the female, Legato continues, but his lifestyle and societal expectations combine to favor the odds that he will die first. Males are encouraged to be aggressive, take risks, identify with violent characters in computer gaming, and, in athletic sports, are often exposed to physical injury. Further, Legato writes, male-dominated careers in such areas as the military and construction also make men prone to engage in higher-risk lifestyles. This clearly written book, with its informative coverage of the male perspective on gender-specific medicine-and ironically written by a female physician-is a good purchase for public libraries and consumer health collections.\ —James Swanton\ \ \
