Men more at risk of dying before 65 than women due to smoking,alcohol

Those who are in poor material and social conditions are more likely to smoke or drug abuse.

More men than women die before they reach 65 years of age because of smoking and alcohol abuse,according to a European Union study.

The study claimed that annually 630,000 men of working age died compared to 300,000 female deaths across the European Union countries because of unhealthy habits.

The male death rate from chronic liver disease in 23 out of 31 countries was found to be at least double than that of women.

Furthermore,82 per cent of heroin overdoses were reported in men.

“Lifestyles are not simply the product of individual choice. Those who are in poor material and social conditions eat less healthily,exercise less and are more likely to smoke or misuse drugs,” the Daily Mail quoted Dr Richard de Visser,from the University of Sussex as saying.

“In the context of addressing premature mortality among men,there is a growing awareness of the need for lifestyle modification in early life among men engaged in damaging health behaviours,” he added.

The President of the European Men’s Health Forum Dr Ian Banks expressed concern over the situation saying: “This is not just about health. Premature male death undermines the economy,undermines families,undermines women and their health and undermines our social security and health services.”