Health: Bi Men At Risk For Heart Disease
Being part of the LGBTQ community is hard on the heart in a metaphorical sense. But now a study shows that it being part of the LGBTQ community may actually affect your heart in a very real, and a very adverse way, especially if you’re a bisexual man.
In a study titled Sexual Orientation Difference in Modifiable Risk Factors for Cardiovascular Disease and Cardiovascular Disease in Men, it was discovered that bisexual men are at a higher risk of heart disease. The study was published in the journal the journal LGBT Health.
The study was conducted on 7,731 male participants between the ages of 20 to 59 who were divided into four groups based on their sexuality. It then examined heart disease diagnoses among men of different sexual orientations and measured their risk factors for heart disease.
No link was found between sexual identity and heart disease diagnoses. However, it was revealed that bisexual men are more exposed to heart disease risk factors compared to straight men. These risk factors include mental distress, obesity, and elevated blood pressure.
Billy Caceres, lead author of the study, called on medical practitioners to tailor their screening and prevention to account for the higher risk factor that bisexual men face. He also added that medical practitioners should include mental distress as a risk factor when screening bisexual men for heart disease.
The added stress that minority groups encounter often contribute to their sexual orientation or race negatively influencing their health. This can result in them being more at risk to suffer chronic stress, engage in risky behavior, have poor mental health, and have higher rates of drinking, smoking, and drug use.
Adam4Adam blog readers, how do you feel about this recent discovery? To our bisexual readers, have you found the study results reflected in your own life? How big a factor does mental stress play in your overall health? Share your thoughts and comments with us in the comments section below.
Ugh. More to be stressed about, which causes stress! I wonder if the risks are different for bi guys who are sexually active.
I am a bi man. I had a heart attack at age 59. It is interesting to read the report. I thought it was because my diet sucked, like me
That’s so ridiculous. They have better things to study!!
“Being part of the LGBTQ community is hard on the heart in a metaphorical sense. But now a study shows that it being part of the LGBTQ community may actually affect your heart in a very real, and a very adverse way…”
Exactly. The so called “community” is anything but. People.who invoke its existence are generally elitist, divisive, judgemental, and demanding. They define LGTBQ along very narrow lines. “Bi” dividuals are not welcome. Neither are anyone “In the closet.”, If you’re not in love with Divas, no. Not behind “PRIDE!”, forget it. Of course there’s pressure. It’s the hate from within.
Gay guys who don’t try to be part of this “IN” crowd are smart. Be the best you that you are. People who really matter will respond.
I can see the risks being higher, especially from the stresses peculiar to their situation. We all know either sexuality runs a range, with some of us pretty exclusively desiring one gender or the other, for erotic or even deep emotional connection.
Although I have found bisexual males, generally, less stressful to play with, I have noted a tendency of some people, to give them a hard time for not being gender exclusive. Some gay guys, often ones who think straight men can be “turned”, resent that the bisexual won’t just be gay and quit pretending [which I think is a preposterous idea]. Some straight women resent that the bisexual would even look elsewhere, since he met her. Only in a few cases have I run into a bisexual male whose partner knows and honestly understands that he needs relations with both genders. Too often, the knowledge carries restrictions or suspicion. Too many bi guys hide the male attraction from their female partner and their friends, and too many also run afoul of the gay playmate who accepted the limits at first, but now wants exclusivity.
I can see the stresses they are under, and I can imagine, for those who wish the male attraction would go away, the same as many gay men used to do, how much more pronounced their life stresses must be.
I try to be reaffirming with bisexual guys (who actually have been some of my most enjoyable playmates), although, if they are married, I don’t play, a rule that saves headaches regardless of orientation.
Bullshit! This SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH doesn’t correlate!!!
For many years I tried one side of the fence (being totally straight) and I would end up jumping on the other side of the fence, secretly. It seemed to be fun because it seemed to be my secret, until my gf at the time walked in on me and her older brother. I told her that he “started it” which made her immediately fired back with “And I am ending it!” And, she did.
My job took me to another town with all new people and I tried only being around gay people. I met a fun Lesbian couple but next thing I knew I was having sex with the more feminine Lesbian. The stress of being bi is enormous because it is like trying to departmentalize your feelings toward each person and you try to be like the person(s) you are around. Sometimes it’s difficult to remember the sexual orientation of the person(s) and you have to change what you are thinking and saying. In other words, it’s a very stressful and confusing situation, every time. AND, the gay guys I am around don’t like for me to be around women and my straight friends don’t want me to hang out with my gay friends- even more stress!
I don’t drink. I don’t smoke. I don’t do any drugs. I am not seeing a therapist. And, I don’t have high blood pressure…not yet, anyway.
Basically what this article is saying as a bisexual man I need to monitor my life choices aka health and mental health properly, as with all individuals, so this is noting new, I agree that mental health plays a key role on our body and how we think and the stress we take on as men, how i deal with it is being myself do not allow negativity to get to me, of course I’m not out , but I build strong mental walls, keep positive minded ppl around me keep the negatives at a distance and also eat healthy and exercise often, I dont make my bedroom stories public and I don’t advertise my life, I like my privacy and my own space, one needs to come to terms with themselves accept who they are and live your life to the fullest and for you. South American bisexual man speaking who is a medical student.
Real bisexual men are about as rare as 4 leaf clovers. This was probably a study of men who can’t admit they’re gay and are married to women.
Thank you for doing a post on this. Bi men are often discriminated against by both straight and gay (often we’re assumed to REALLY just be one or the other and not fully trusted as sexual partners by either, like we don’t really exist as who we are). Just being recognized makes a difference, but doing so while recognizing the stress of often being looked at and treated as bi people are (especially men) is great.
Things are changing, but I still constantly see young bi men absolutely suppressed, stressed, limited in their lives because, while they have gay and straight friends, they feel they have to be in the closet about having sex with men, or can admit occasionally they want to but are overwhelmed by the stigma attached to it when growing up as “straight” and feeling “mostly straight.” Often they can’t even say they are bi. We should not have a society like that. The cost to millions of individuals in happiness and health is unacceptable.
For many years I tried one side of the fence (being totally straight) and I would end up jumping on the other side of the fence, secretly. It seemed to be fun because it seemed to be my secret, until my gf at the time walked in on me and her older brother. I told her that he “started it” which made her immediately fired back with “And I am ending it!” And, she did.
My job took me to another town with all new people and I tried only being around gay people. I met a fun Lesbian couple but next thing I knew I was having sex with the more feminine Lesbian. The stress of being bi is enormous because it is like trying to departmentalize your feelings toward each person and you try to be like the person(s) you are around. Sometimes it’s difficult to remember the sexual orientation of the person(s) and you have to change what you are thinking and saying. In other words, it’s a very stressful and confusing situation, every time. AND, the gay guys I am around don’t like for me to be around women and my straight friends don’t want me to hang out with my gay friends- even more stress!
I don’t drink. I don’t smoke. I don’t do any drugs. I am not seeing a therapist. And, I don’t have high blood pressure…not yet, anyway.
I wonder why they won’t print my response?
The theory makes sense. I remember the stress of a double life. I am sure more studies will be needed, but mental stress has to be considered when we study disease of the heart.
As a married mid age bisexual man who is also in closet, I can say the result of this study could be very realistic due to the mental distress this category may have. Although I am trying to stay fit, exercise and eat healthy and play safe, but the stress is very high in my life style.
I am more concerned by the ignoring of Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome in the gay community, because they are seen as female problems, not recognized as terminal illnesses, not STDs, and not HIV/AIDS related. There is zero help or support. No organizations. No support systems. No volunteers. Nothing.
Haha fucking accurate, when you can’t find a partner that is ok with you liking both men and women, you end up sad and stressed. Being bi in the gay or straight community is almost like telling someone you have leprosy. Or when you tell someone they just look at you like you are a ho. So when you do enter a relationship and you know what happens when you tell them that, you don’t and then it just eats at you. Fucking 2018 what a time to be alive.
It’s true. Bi men have stressors that the others do not have, and stress can drive bad behavior. Seen it for 45 years.
According to the American Heart Association it effects gay, lesbian and bisexual, not just bisexuals.
Many times as in the past it “was” and to some degree, still is, all about the societal or familial pressures, It’s how my first niece came to be in 77′.
Black men still to this very day still suffer this kind of pressure due to the ignorant belief systems that exist within ‘our’ culture, “something the white man did to you.” Utter garbage,
but there it is.
I use to be kind of envious of bi-men, the “best of both worlds” I think perhaps, stand corrected. I tend to enjoy being with bi-men, my only, stipulation is that you be single, at the time of our mingling, I know better, than to let my heart get involved. I also, stand corrected on the fact that all bi-men aren’t necessarily gay (so no need to come out of the closet) and hiding it as my ex-brother in-law was back in the day. It’s all about a good-healthy self-liberation, it still stressful to have to hide it due to work, ect.
I agree that stress can cause all kinds of health problems, not just problems with your heart but also everything else including depression. I have been bi, but mostly gay oriented. Some people know I’m gay, but for the most part, it’s kept a secret, especially at work and with certain individuals which can cause a lot of stress. Stress because of race is also a factor not only within the gay lifestyle but among others as well. I am white, and my BF is black, and between us when were together there is really no stress. We don’t even really think about our difference in skin color, both of us are just who we are. When were dealing with others, family’s, friends etc. yes stress can enter in. Some in our family’s have become more accepting of our relationship, others, I wouldn’t dare mention it. BTW, I don’t love my BF because of our skin color difference. I know some guys like the challenge of seeking out a person of another race, but that’s not the case with the 2 of us. I assume you “Lamar” you are a black man, and personally I don’t care what your skin color is. It’s who you are that counts, and by posts that I have read that you have put on here I bet you are a very nice man. If we were ever to meet up, I bet we would have a lot in common.
🙂 Correct on most counts. “I’m an opposites attracts type,” fiercely adventurous like that, as well as sexually; I love our physical differences in our “typical to ethnicity traits” shapes, colors, ect.
Because I so closely associate food with sex, lol; no one, eats just one ethnic cuisine do they?
I love to meet guys who love to explore our differences on all levels, but, in the most respectful ways, no body exploiting anyone, just exploration, a mutual connection. For those people around the world, who just are just turned-on by someone “physically different.” Also, though, occasionally, I do see other black guys that ‘really’ turn my head as well.
Ethnicities, in this respect, is a gift from the Gods that be, variety of life, however, because of history, we humans have some very negative-dark and perverse mindsets-ideas to overcome about each other. It’s really about the “context” of your attraction by ethnicity, makes or breaks the connection.
It sounds like you and your partner have found something special enough within each other to over come the negativity of the of race, to enjoy the positivity in your diverse ethnicities, cheers!
i am a gay, blk, male & i also suffer from bi-poplar, anxiety, AND depression but never associated it with not accepting my sexuality and letting it affect my well being until yesterday at an A.A. meeting listening to a fellow member & just now reading the above entry! it gives me something to think about and work on along with the medication i am on.