Increasing number of suicides, indifferent attitude towards health and many other factors make men the weaker sex, according to several studies.
Men in New Zealand have lower life expectancy (77 years) compared to women (82 years). They are less likely to talk to a General Practitioner about their health than women would do during their lifetime.
Medical examination by a family doctor at least once a year can be beneficial in reducing the risk of many preventable diseases in men.
In New Zealand, one in two men is diagnosed with cancer, compared to one in three in women. Prostate cancer, the most commonly diagnosed cancer in New Zealand, occurs mainly in men over 60 years of age.
One in ten men in New Zealand will get prostate cancer in their lifetime. Depression can affect one in six men at any time.
Health Week
The annual Men’s Health Week aims to create awareness on preventable health problems and encourage early detection and treatment of diseases among men. This year, the event will be marked from June 10 to 16.
A number of activities will be held throughout New Zealand during Men’s Health Week this year. For more details, please visit www.fatherandchild.org.nz and www.menshealthmonth.org
The Week gives time for healthcare providers, policy makers, media and others an opportunity to encourage men to seek regular medical advice and timely treatment of health problems that are common to men.
Men are indeed the weaker sex, because their suicide rate is four times higher than women, accounting for 70% of alcohol related deaths in New Zealand.
The mortality rate for all of leading causes of death for the total population is higher for males than females in New Zealand and Australia.
Common diseases
The main causes of death in men in New Zealand and Australia are ischaemic heart disease, trachea and lung cancer, strokes, chronic lower respiratory diseases, prostate cancer, dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, colon and rectum cancer and blood and lymph cancer including leukaemia, diabetes and suicide.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), there is a decline in male life expectancy in several countries, including the Eastern Europe.
Men are prone to collecting fat around the abdomen. Visceral fat, commonly known as abdominal fat, is different from other body fat.
Visceral fat is the hidden fat that wraps itself around our internal organs and contributes to dangerous conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, stroke, inflammation, breast cancer and dementia.
Breast cancer affects about 1% of all men.
Walk for life
Regular physical activity is the cornerstone of a healthy lifestyle and should be re-integrated into the normal course of everyday living by using stairs instead of lifts and walking short distances instead of using transport.
You may walk early in the morning before breakfast, during lunch break, at sunset on the beach and walk between home and work if the distance is short.
Walking at a fairly fast pace for at least half an hour, six days a week, has been shown to reduce visceral fat. Experts say that it is a better way of helping to control visceral fat than by doing some risky exercises. However, doing no exercise at all has shown to increase the amount of visceral fat in the body.
WHO recommends a daily intake of 400g of fruit and vegetables. A healthy diet also emphasises inclusion of whole grains, fat-free or low-fat milk, milk products, lean meat, fish, beans, eggs, nuts and foods low in saturated fats, trans-saturated fats, cholesterol, salt and added sugar.
It is very important to stay at a healthy weight and drink alcohol only in moderation. If you do smoke, you must talk to your doctor about quitting.
Men should learn to cope with stress and avoid fast and dangerous driving.
Mitchell Beazley, in his book, ‘The Complete Book of Men’s Health,’ recommends men to consider doctors as coaches talking through the game of life.
“Your GP will advise you on techniques and strategies to keep you on top form. When it comes to this particular game, winning is everything,” he said.
Thilliar Varnakulasingham has been a regular Indian Newslink columnist. He is versatile on several aspects of health and wellbeing.
