It’s Men’s Health Week from June 12 – 18 and leading up to that, we’re opening the conversation about how to support men to be healthier.
The reasons why men don’t visit the doctor largely come down to the perception of masculinity revolving around self–reliance, independence and being a protector and provider. Some of these emotions are likely to be contributed to by testosterone itself. And, like testosterone itself, these emotions have got their place and can be useful and positive in context.
The problem is, in the healthcare context, that a strong sense of self–reliance and independence can go too far for men, and they either neglect their health or are in denial about any problems.
The good news is that some of these stereotypes are starting to break down, and getting your health sorted by visiting the doctor, is being viewed as an important and smart thing to do by more and more men.
If you’re well, then it could just be about having a men’s health check with a GP. If you’ve got a concern about your health, then it’s about overcoming any tendency to deny that the problem exists and making that positive move to get it checked out.
The healthcare system in Australia is relatively advanced, and we have access to many treatments that can fix and prevent health issues. The most important thing is to detect issues and get them sorted early.
It’s worthwhile here to address a common rebuttal, “I just don’t have time”. Firstly, I do sympathise with the sort of busy lives our society is based on. Sometimes, we genuinely don’t get an opportunity to stop and reflect – the rat race. Nevertheless, it still comes down to setting your health as a priority. Simply, if you don’t prioritise health now, chances are, ill health may forcefully prioritise itself one day. The message is – get in there early guys and stay on track with your health.
So, what does a “Men’s Health Check” comprise? It’s a broad description of seeing a nurse and GP to consider your:
- Mental health
- Cardiovascular health (risk of having a heart attack)
- Prostate concerns
- Sexual dysfunction
- Urinary problems
- Weight management
We recently posted a podcast about Men’s Health. Feel free to listen and check out what’s going on with Men’s Health Week.
The most important thing is to take that step and see your GP to have a health check!
