Middle-Aged Men

Men of middle-age (35-65 years) are at increasing risk for CHD as they progressively age. Up to one-third of all new CHD events and about one-fourth of all CHD deaths occur in middle-aged men. Most of the excess risk for CHD morbidity and mortality in middle-aged men can be explained by the major risk factorscholesterol disorders, hypertension, and cigarette smoking. Men are predisposed to abdominal obesity, which makes them particularly susceptible to the metabolic syndrome. Consequently, metabolic risk factors (elevated cholesterol and triglycerides, low HDL cholesterol, and elevated blood pressure) appear earlier in men than women.