Don’t ‘man up’, speak up!

14th June 2019

In support of Men’s Health Week June 10^th to 14^th

Driven by The Men’s Health Forum – https://www.menshealthforum.org.uk/

KML occupational Health took an active part in the recent Mental Health Awareness Week. We delivered talks to mixed groups at a number of client’ premises including two to just men in the construction industry.

Construction has always been a male dominated industry, and though that is changing it is a good indicator of how men deal with health issues.

In a survey by Opinium Research LLP, only 9% of men in the construction industry say they would speak to HR or a Line Manager if they had a Mental Health problem. That alone is worrying, but it is coupled with the statistic that only 32% of men would also report a physical health issue.

So why don’t men talk about health enough?

In a survey from Opinion Outpost UK, they note:

A number of men’s health problems are considered taboo. Prostate and bowel cancer are just two of the physical health issues men find difficult to talk about, but mental health is still the big one.

Recent media campaigns have been helping change this now for some time, delivered in a way to appeal to men and encourage them to visit their GP.

More needs to be done though to get men to address the issues. Perhaps the flat, cold statistic that 20% of men die before the age of 65 will make some think?

It’s good to talk!

John Chisholm, Chair of the British Medical Association’s Ethics Committee, believes that British ‘stiff upper lip’ society has bred generations of men who believe that accepting you need help is to somehow surrender your masculinity.

“There is a cultural understanding that all men should be macho,” says the doctor. “But we need to understand that this expectation of stoic masculinity is putting lives at risks – men shouldn’t be bottling these things up.”

Adam Voiland of US News says ‘Go to the doctor and tell him or her if you’re having a health problem of any kind. Our culture may reward stoic behavior from men; disease does not. This is especially true for men who feel sad or depressed for extended periods. It is extremely common for men to internalize and ignore their problems.’

TV personality and Doctor Hilary Jones says it’s crucial that we get men talking more openly about their health issues.

He believes men need to be “encouraged to be open about their health” and they should be “embracing every opportunity to stay well”.

The television GP believes men would rather be “dragged kicking and screaming to the doctor’s surgery” rather than confronting their concerns and worries head on.

“Men feel embarrassed to talk about their health and if it’s anything below the waist, forget it. We feel like the doctor will laugh at us,” he told us.

“We’re proud to sport an injury on the playing field but we don’t want to talk about anything that resembles difficult problems.”

Dr. Hilary says “everyone tackles sensitive issues differently” and its important men know that there are many ways to get help and advice.

 

The biggest health risks to men and what you can do to reduce your risk

Heart Disease –

• 74,500 men die each year from the condition annually in the UK.
• High blood pressure is one of the main causes but it is almost symptomless.
• Excess weight, smoking, poor diet and lack of exercise add up to a cocktail of reasons that this is the biggest killer.

Lung cancer –

• 21,000 premature deaths per year
• Shortness of breath and coughing up blood are the main two symptoms
• Giving up smoking is the main way to reduce risk. If you stop smoking after 30 years of use, you will reduce your risk of dying by 80% over the next 15 years.

Bowel cancer –

• 8,500 premature deaths per year
• Persistent change in bowel habits. Constipation or diarrhoea. Unexplained anaemia, lump in the abdomen, unexplained weight change, abdominal pain, blood in the stools
• Eat more fibre to help the bowel work more smoothly. Helps expel toxins and carcinogens. Exercise more to stimulate your metabolism and drink more water. Limit alcohol intake.

Prostate cancer –

• 22,000 men diagnosed with 9,500 premature deaths per year
• Watch for an increased need to urinate, a poor urine stream, lower back pain or blood in the urine
• Prevention lays around eating less red meat, giving up smoking and even using garden fertilisers and pesticides. Eating more fruit and veg, especially those such as tomatoes which are rich sources of antioxidants will all help prevention

Depression and suicide –

• Suicide is the biggest killer of men under 45 with those older still at risk. Men are three times more likely than women to take their own lives.
• Symptoms of Depression include, fatigue, a loss of interest in usual activities including eating and sex, being unable to cope, believing there is no point to life and disrupted sleep. This is often couple with an increasing reliance ion alcohol or drugs.
• Exercise has been scientifically proven to stave off depression due to the mood-lifting chemicals it produces. Talking with friends, family and therapist is crucial too. Your GP and many other local and national organisations and charities provide here too, but you need to ask.