--- title: Fatherhood is as Serious as a Heart Attack... Literally image: https://www.fatherhood.org/hubfs/NFI-Assets/images/Featured%20Image.jpg --- [Skip to main content](https://www.fatherhood.org/championing-fatherhood/bid/135303/Fatherhood-is-as-Serious-as-a-Heart-Attack-Literally#main) - [![NFI mark](https://www.fatherhood.org/hubfs/NFI-Assets/images/NFI%20mark.svg)FATHERHOOD.ORG](https://www.fatherhood.org/) - [STORE.FATHERHOOD.ORG](https://store.fatherhood.org/) [![NFI_logo_blue_left (1) 1](https://www.fatherhood.org/hs-fs/hubfs/NFI-Assets/images/NFI_logo_blue_left%20(1)%201.png?width=149&height=82&name=NFI_logo_blue_left%20(1)%201.png) ![NFI_logo_blue_left (1) 1](https://www.fatherhood.org/hs-fs/hubfs/NFI-Assets/images/NFI_logo_blue_left%20(1)%201.png?width=119&height=65&name=NFI_logo_blue_left%20(1)%201.png) ![NFI_logo_blue_left (1) 1](https://www.fatherhood.org/hs-fs/hubfs/NFI-Assets/images/NFI_logo_blue_left%20(1)%201.png?width=119&height=66&name=NFI_logo_blue_left%20(1)%201.png) ![NFI_logo_blue_left (1) 1](https://www.fatherhood.org/hs-fs/hubfs/NFI-Assets/images/NFI_logo_blue_left%20(1)%201.png?width=89&height=49&name=NFI_logo_blue_left%20(1)%201.png) ](https://www.fatherhood.org) - [How To Build Strong Families](https://www.fatherhood.org/build-strong-families) - [Why Father Inclusion Matters](https://www.fatherhood.org/why-father-inclusion-matters) - Show submenu for Get Involved Get Involved - [Fatherhood Programs](https://www.fatherhood.org/solutions/programs-and-resources) - [Train Your Staff](https://www.fatherhood.org/solutions/staff-training) - [State, County, and City Agency Services](https://www.fatherhood.org/solutions/collaborative-services) Open main navigation Close main navigation - Show submenu for Get Informed Get Informed - [How To Build Strong Families](https://www.fatherhood.org/build-strong-families) - [Why Father Inclusion Matters](https://www.fatherhood.org/why-father-inclusion-matters) - [Father Stats & Infographics](https://www.fatherhood.org/father-absence-statistic) - Show submenu for Get Involved Get Involved - [Fatherhood Programs](https://www.fatherhood.org/solutions/programs-and-resources) - [Train Your Staff](https://www.fatherhood.org/solutions/staff-training) - [State, County, and City Agency Services](https://www.fatherhood.org/solutions/collaborative-services) - Show submenu for Get Started Get Started - [Find Your Stage of Father Inclusion](https://www.fatherhood.org/father-inclusion) - [How Father Friendly Is Your Organization?](https://www.fatherhood.org/father-friendly) - [Get In Touch](https://www.fatherhood.org/get-started) [Store](https://store.fatherhood.org/?hsLang=en) [Get In Touch](https://www.fatherhood.org/get-started) [Store](https://store.fatherhood.org/?hsLang=en) Show submenu for Get Started Get Started - [Fatherhood Data & Statistics](https://www.fatherhood.org/father-absence-statistic) - [How Father Friendly is Your Organization?](https://www.fatherhood.org/father-friendly) - [Other Free Resources](https://www.fatherhood.org/nfi-free-resources) - [Talk With us to Get Started](https://www.fatherhood.org/get-started) National Fatherhood Initiative Blog / [Latest Articles](https://www.fatherhood.org/championing-fatherhood) [men's health](https://www.fatherhood.org/championing-fatherhood/topic/mens-health) # Fatherhood is as Serious as a Heart Attack... Literally 1 min read ![Vincent DiCaro](https://www.fatherhood.org/hs-fs/hub/135704/file-528182185.jpg?width=100&height=100&name=file-528182185.jpg) [** Vincent DiCaro ** ](https://www.fatherhood.org/championing-fatherhood/author/vincent-dicaro) Vince is NFI's Vice President of Communication and Development. He is married to Claudia, has one son with another son on the way and lives in Maryland. A new study ([described in this article](http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/44674351/ns/health-mens_health/#.ToHWTexGSAChttp://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/44674351/ns/health-mens_health/%23.ToHWTexGSAC) and in many other places) has found that fathers are less likely than other men to die of heart disease. To summarize, "childless men were 17 percent more likely to have died of heart disease during the decade [under study] than the men who were fathers." The article goes on to talk about the potential link between infertility and heart disease, which is very interesting. But I really like what the researcher says towards the end of the article: "There may be more than just a biologic reason" for the childless men’s higher risk of dying of heart disease, (Dr. Michael) Eisenberg says. After all, other studies have shown men who live alone tend to die sooner than men who don’t, he says, and maybe having kids spurs men to take better care of themselves. We often say here at NFI that [in order to be a good father you have to be alive](http://thefatherfactor.blogspot.com/2011/01/you-can-only-be-better-dad-if-you-are.html). We know that one of the biggest motivators for men around a variety of issues is their children. Taking care of their health appears to be no different. I know in my own life that since my son was born, I have been much more interested in staying healthy - my wife and I have gone through [P90X](http://www.beachbody.com/product/fitness_programs/p90x.do?t=p90xobb1&code=SEMB_GOOGLE_P90X&extcmp=e79dc8a93ec8447a&ef_id=3jNOFcLfHUMAAE@u:20110928185412:s), and are doing [Insanity](http://www.beachbody.com/product/fitness_programs/insanity.do?gclid=CNOyyuHOwKsCFc465QodJg54rw&code=SEMB_GOOGLE_SAN&extcmp=66367740&ef_id=3jNOFcLfHUMAAE@u:20110928185432:s) as we speak. And this is why NFI does its [fit2father campaign](https://www.fatherhood.org/get-involved/take-the-fit-to-father-pledge) every year. In fact, you should [take the pledge today](https://www.fatherhood.org/get-involved/take-the-fit-to-father-pledge) to join other dads in getting healthy for their kids' sakes! So, we are not necessarily surprised by the conclusion and interpretation of this new study. However, men do still live about 6 years less than women, and one of the reasons is that they don't go to the doctor nearly as often as women do. So, while we know that having children motivates men to do better, they still have a ways to go to make sure they are doing all they can to be around for their children for as long, and as healthily, as possible. Date Published: 09/28/2011 Last Updated: 02/12/2014 ## Learn How to Build a Fatherhood Program That Works Download this free guide for a proven 7-step roadmap—from making the case and securing funding for your program, to launching and measuring real results! [Get The Guide Now!](https://www.fatherhood.org/starting-a-fatherhood-program) ![7-steps-starting-a-fatherhood_program](https://www.fatherhood.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Images/7-steps-starting-a-fatherhood_program.png?width=700&height=700&name=7-steps-starting-a-fatherhood_program.png) [ Previous ](https://www.fatherhood.org/championing-fatherhood/bid/135304/Dads-Playbook-Podcast-with-NFL-quarterback-Mark-Brunell-Week-1-Work-Family-Balance) [ Next ](https://www.fatherhood.org/championing-fatherhood/bid/135442/do-involved-fathers-smarter-better-behaved-children) ## Related Articles ### [[New Resource] Three Steps to Help Dads Care for Their Mental Health Unless you’ve been hiding under a rock lately, you know there’s an increasing emphasis on helping dads in a vital area of self-care: taking care of their mental health. Caring for ... 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