Men face many health crises in midlife. How can they avoid them and age well?

With an average life expectancy at birth of 82.7 years, men in Hong Kong live long lives by global standards. But a long life is not a guarantee of a long healthspan. On almost every measurable health outcome, Hong Kong women are healthier than their male counterparts.There are several reasons for this. Men are generally more likely to put off seeking healthcare and ignore early warning signs until a condition advances to a critical stage.Men are also at a higher risk of cardiovascular diseases such as heart attacks and strokes, metabolic disorders such as type 2 diabetes, and developing mental health disorders, and are less likely to see a doctor over issues related to their sexual health.So how can men make sure their lives are not just long but healthy, too?Normalising the healthcare conversationGovernment campaigns such as those promoting Pap smears and mammograms have normalised conversations surrounding healthcare for women, and have conditioned them to undergo checks early and regularly.But this is not the case for men, who would benefit from regular health screenings and opportunities for discussions about general health.