Health experts and GP tell men to ‘do these things today’

Not all men are the strong, silent type. But stereotypes usually exist for a reason, and experts believe that some men’s silence may prevent them from seeking early help for health problems.

This may have something to do with the fact that, according to the Men’s Health Forum, one in five men in the UK dies before the age of 65, and the men’s health charity Movember, which tackles three of the biggest health problems affecting men. – mental health and suicide prevention, prostate cancer and testicular cancer, says that men die on average four and a half years earlier than women, from largely preventable causes.

“Whether it’s a mental or physical problem, there is a cultural problem rooted in the harmful male stereotype that conflates power with silence, and this can prevent men from seeking formal medical care or talking only to friends or family reliable, perpetuating a cycle of undiagnosed. and untreated health conditions,” says Sarah Coghlan, Movember’s global director of men’s health promotion.

“Men who take action, care for themselves, and engage in their health can significantly improve their own lives, change cultural narratives, and positively impact the lives of those they care about.”

To mark Men’s Health Week (MHW June 10-16), a family doctor and men’s health experts suggest what men can do right now to protect their health.

Eight things men can do right now for their health

Be more open and seek help if needed

Movember says that three out of four suicides in the UK are by men and stresses that it’s important that men stay in touch with their friends and talk more, as this can really help mental health.

Coghlan says: “Stay connected – spend time with people who make you feel good. Your friends are important and spending time with them is good for you. Catch up regularly, take your time, and take your time.

“I’m talking more. You don’t have to be an expert and you don’t have to be the solution, but being there for someone, listening and giving your time can save lives.”

And Dr Niaz Khan, GP at HCA UK Primary Care, says: “As well as being open and promoting good communication about emotional wellbeing with trusted friends and family, it’s also advisable to liaise with existing appointments .” This could be cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) sessions, using employee assistance programs or seeking support from your manager if the workload has increased, he says.

Make sure your prostate is fine

Jim Pollard, chief content officer at the Men’s Health Forum and author of the new guide, P For Prostate, advises white men over 50 and black men over 45 to get to know their prostate. “About half of men don’t know where it is or what it does,” he says, “yet prostate cancer is the most common male cancer in the UK, affecting one in eight white men and one in four black men. Find out more.”

Besides the frequent need to urinate, Khan says decreased urinary flow and blood in the urine are the main symptoms to look out for in relation to prostatism.

Start eating a healthy diet and watch your weight

Dr Khan says men should try to eat five portions of fruit and vegetables a day, as well as two portions of fatty fish a week, and limit salt to 6g a day or less: “Watch your fat intake carefully saturates from the diet, and replace high-calorie snacks with lower-calorie, healthy snacks such as fruit.”

And if you need to lose weight (if your BMI is over 25, or 23 if you’re from an ethnic minority), as well as doing 150 minutes of aerobic exercise a week and maintaining 8,000-10,000 steps a day, he suggests a low level. – caloric diet of approximately 2,000 calories per day. “In most cases, this should result in a 500-calorie deficit daily, which can help facilitate weight loss of 1-2 lb per week.”

Measure your waist

More than two-thirds of men in the UK are overweight, says Pollard, who explains that the easiest way to check for yourself is to forget BMI and body fat and simply focus on your waist measurement. “This isn’t the pant size, it’s the measurement around the widest part, usually around the belly button,” he says.

If your measurement is 37 inches or more, you need to watch your weight and are at increased risk for diabetes, cancer, and heart disease. “Don’t assume you already know if you’re overweight or not,” he cautions. “Most men underestimate how big they really are.”

Check your testicles

Testicular cancer is the number one cancer in young men, although Coghlan says the good news is that if caught early, it’s highly curable. “Find out what’s normal for your testicles,” she advises. “Check them regularly and see a doctor if anything doesn’t feel right.”

Do not ignore problems with erections

An increasing number of men of all ages are suffering from erectile dysfunction, says Pollard, who points out: “More and more younger men seem to be affected. Of course, we can’t always get an erection when we want one – what we’re talking about here are common problems getting an erection or keeping one.”

He says erectile problems can be an early warning sign of many health conditions, including heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, depression, anxiety, high cholesterol, low testosterone, excessive alcohol or drug use, and addictions. “Don’t just buy tablets, talk to your GP,” advises Pollard. “They’ve heard it all before, and it’s a real win-win: You’ll get your sex life back and you’ll have any underlying conditions resolved.”

Be more active

Being active is essential to prevent and reduce the risks of many diseases, including cancer, and to improve physical and mental health – yet Movember says one in four adults are not active enough, and in high-income countries like would be the UK, 41% of men do not exercise enough.

It should be relatively easy to add more activity to your day if you’re pretty sedentary right now, and Coghlan advises men to do more of what makes them feel good. Try walking to an appointment, parking further away from the station, getting off the bus a stop or two earlier, taking the stairs instead of the lift or cycling to work instead of driving or taking public transport .

Book an NHS health check

Pollard suggests that men over 40 should ask their GP for an NHS health check. This is a free check of your general health and can determine if you are at higher risk of certain health problems, including heart disease, diabetes and kidney problems.