June recognizes Men’s Health Month. However, the week leading up to the U.S.’ Father’s Day celebrates Men’s Health Week. This week is meant to raise awareness of the health issues that disproportionately affect men. It is also intended to help encourage men to take action in seeking earlier and consistent care.

According to the Center for Disease Control, among the ten leading causes of death in men, half are related to issues with internal organs. Of these heart disease accounts for nearly a quarter of male deaths. As a medical trainee, becoming aware of all health disparities is an important part of a comprehensive medical education. They can even motivate you to enter a certain specialty. Below we highlight some of the medical fields that, while not explicitly related to men’s health, are important to the areas of health that most significantly impact men.

 

Cardiology

Cardiology is a specialty within internal medicine, which focuses on diagnosing and treating diseases that affect the heart and cardiovascular system. The most common issues treated by cardiologists include heart disease, atrial fibrillation, hypertension, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol.

Heart-related health issues are the leading cause of death in men. Earlier detection is an important step in addressing these health issues and limiting their severity.

Read more about cardiology by clicking here.

 

Pulmonology

Among the leading cause of death in men is issues with the respiratory system, including COPD, emphysema, and lung disease or lung cancer. Pulmonology is a field of internal medicine that focuses specifically on the respiratory system to detect these issues early and prevent, heal, or limit their severity.

Read more about becoming a pulmonologist by clicking here.

 

Urology

While issues related to the urinary tract are not a leading cause of death in men, urology is an important element of comprehensive men’s health. Beyond medical cases related to the prostate glands, urinary tract, or bladder, urologists also focus on issues related to the the male reproductive system.

Read more about urology by clicking here.

 

Hepatology, Nephrology, and More

Kidney and liver disease are the ninth and tenth leading cause of death in men, making the medical fields hepatology (liver) and nephrology (kidney) critical to men’s healthcare. However, because most issues related to men’s health are of the internal organs–such as diabetes and neurological disorders–internal medicine is an important field for those interested in addressing health issues related to men. Internal medicine is also among the friendliest IMG specialties.

Read more about the internal medicine by clicking here.