Did you know that women can expect to live 7.6% longer than men at age 20 years, and 14% longer at age 80 years? And women are more likely to visit their doctors for regular check-ups than men. In fact, men have admitted that they would rather be doing household chores, like cleaning toilets, than going to the doctor.

How does this affect men’s health?
Well, men face a higher risk of heart attacks, lung disease, and dying from unintentional injuries. What’s more, worldwide, men are more likely to commit suicide than women.

Why don’t men prioritise their health better?
Stigma and the idea of masculinity Cultural and traditional ideas about masculinity can influence how men perceive and prioritise health issues. In fact, men who adopt traditional ideas about masculinity often face more barriers to seeking health care.

Traditional ideas about masculinity can cause men to avoid sharing their emotions and feelings. They fear that they will be perceived as weak if they share their fears and concerns about their health. This includes their mental health.

Since men don’t seek help for their mental health issues, they’re more likely to turn to addictive substances that are harmful to cope. Hence, the statistics show men are more likely to die from alcohol-related causes, and they’re also more likely to misuse drugs compared to women.

What happens when men do visit the doctor?
Men who visit the doctor have admitted to not always being honest about their health, as well as withholding important information from their doctors.

In addition to being embarrassed or uncomfortable, research shows men also withhold information from their doctors because they are worried about the potential diagnosis that results might reveal should they tell the truth.

Why shouldn’t men avoid doctors?
It’s important to go for regular check-ups as this will help the doctor pick up on early warning signs of a more serious condition. In some instances, an early diagnosis could save a man’s life.

Not all diseases have easily-recognisable symptoms and this is why regular checkups are so important. Take prostate cancer for example. If detected early, patients diagnosed with prostate cancer can have a much better prognosis.

How can men prioritise their health better?

  1. They need to understand that their mental health matters Mental health is a real medical concern and men should address their mental health the same way they would any other health condition. What’s more, if they feel that their mental health has been in disarray lately, they need to understand that reaching out and seeking help is not a sign of weakness, but actually absolute strength.
  2. They should adopt healthy habits Adopt lifestyle habits can help men maintain their health better. Healthy lifestyle habits include not smoking, eating healthier food and regularly exercising for 30 minutes, at least 3 times a week.
    Additional habits that men can adopt include:

    • Visiting their doctor for regular health screenings
      Regular screenings are a great way for both men and their doctors to have a better understanding of their overall health. That said, men should go for the following regular screening and exams:

      • Prostate exam
      • Blood pressure and cholesterol screening (to determine your heart disease risk)
      • Blood glucose reading (to determine your diabetes risk)
      • Colorectal exam (to determine your colon cancer risk)
    • Eating a healthy diet
      • A diet high in fiber-rich foods (whole grains, fruits, and vegetables) and low in refined sugar and processed foods is a great way to keep the body healthy. It’s also best to monitor alcohol and sugar intake, sticking to no more than two glasses of alcohol a day.
    • Be more safety-conscious
      • Deaths from injury in auto-related accidents are more common in men than women. It’s important that men be more safety-conscious when they are behind the wheel. They should obey the rules of the road and this includes not driving under the influence. Obey all speed laws, and stay off of their devices when driving.

Men’s health is important and regardless of stigma and traditional ideas about masculinity, if men really want to live healthier longer, they should prioritise their health. After all, men play a very important role in society and they owe it not only to themselves but also to those closest to them.

Written by LifeAssist