The tougher the man, the earlier he dies. This is according to two recent studies by the New Jersey's Rutgers University in which researchers found that macho men seek medical help too late and often lie about their symptoms to male doctors to protect their egos.They did this because they believed they needed to keep up a "strong front" when interacting with them.The researchers found that men who held traditional beliefs about masculinity - that they should be tough, brave, self-reliant and restrained in their expression of emotion - were more likely to ignore medical problems, or put off dealing with them, than women or men with less traditional beliefs.According to the research, published in the Journal of Preventive Medicine, men can expect to die five years earlier than women and physiological differences do not explain that differenceCo-founder of SA's Hello Doctor Michael Mol says for many men health is simply a female concept."Ego may certainly be part of the issue. Surveys done by our mates Down Under have revealed that men, and I'm generalising here, don't necessarily have a direct interest in talking or thinking about health as they perceive this to be 'excessive'. Instead they think of their health in terms of sporting targets or appearance concerns."Furthermore, men in other surveys have reported to be less willing than women to attend health education sessions, less interested in information on illness prevention, and less willing to have an annual health check or to seek advice," he said.Men tend to have an "invincibility gene", an inherent belief that they are bulletproof, Mol said."This is often associated with a lack of attention to their own health, since health checks are only for the 'weak'. The research shows that men take much longer to get help. This is a problem, since firstly, many conditions have no symptoms, such as high blood pressure and diabetes, and secondly, the earlier a condition can be picked up, the better the prognosis."Of course there are other issues. A busy job, competing responsibilities, the list goes on. But on the whole, it's that pesky invincibility gene that seems to be the main culprit."Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital principal psychologist Jasmin Kooverjee said men put their careers, taking care of their families and their to-do lists ahead of their health."They just think that nothing can happen to them. They minimise their health and put off going to a doctor because they believe there won't be a consequence to it. Women are more fearful."TOP FIVE CAUSE OF MALE DEATHHIV/AidsInterpersonal violenceTuberculosisHeart diseaseStroke..