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Men's Health MattersDespite Advances in Medicine, Men Still Have Poorer Health OutcomesIf men see their doctors for an annual check up - just like they take their cars for a regular service - their incidence of 'breakdown' will be far less!
When doctors talk about men’s health, we don’t always realise that this has two quite different aspects
Despite the many medical advances of the past century, men still have poorer health outcomes and higher age-related mortality when compared to women. In most countries today, the average male life expectancy is currently five to six years less than for females. Whether these differences are due to the presence of a male Y chromosome (Nature) or the result of broader issues such as lifestyle, upbringing, attitudes and social expectations (Nurture) is a matter of speculation – but we do know that the typical male in most cultures is brought up to maintain a stiff upper lip and deal with problems without asking for help. The result is that he doesn’t readily seek medical advice. Moreover, he considers it un-Man-ly to let pain or discomfort show - which means that he ignores or suppresses signs of 'Dis-ease’. The basic problems, therefore, are to get men of the 21st century to
Doctors regularly see their male patients (as well as male friends, family and colleagues!) ignoring warning symptoms and denying health problems – with the result that they finally go to see their doctors (or the Emergency Department of a hospital) only when they are seriously ill. The concept of preventive health appears to be alien to most males! Males between 25 and 64 years - the most productive age group in modern society - run a much greater risk of dying from heart attacks, alcoholic liver disease and cancer when compared to females of the same age. Since most people remember their birthdays, a useful policy is to arrange to have a medical check up during the month of one’s birthday. As a minimum, in addition to a basic clinical examination by the doctor (with or without a prostate check, which depends on the man’s age), a man should measure his “Two Ws and Two Bs” :
The basic blood tests, which should be taken after the man has been fasting for about 12 hours, should measure glucose (blood sugar), lipids (cholesterol), red and white blood cell counts, blood chemistry and liver function. These constitute the essential minimum although other examinations and investigations may be indicated depending on the individual. The take home message is this: If men can be taught the importance of seeing their doctors for an annual check up (just like they take their cars for a regular service) the incidence of ‘breakdowns’ in the male population will be far less than it is now!
The copyright of the article Men's Health Matters in Men’s Health is owned by Sanjiva Wijesinha. Permission to republish Men's Health Matters in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
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