We men are a tough bunch, strong and as full as vitality as when we were 18, right? Well, no, not Australian men. We spend an average of 9 years in poor health and generally have poorer health than women, mostly due to preventable reasons. A boy born in Australia in 2010 has a life expectancy of 78 years while a baby girl could expect to live 82.3 years. That’s almost 4.4 years less than women. Even more strikingly, men are four times more likely to take their own lives. Accidents, cancer and heart disease account for the majority of male deaths.
Despite this, men are also less likely to visit a GP than females.
So, what’s going on?
Genetics
Genes are the instructions for proteins. Genetic changes cause faulty proteins. Too many faults in genetic material and things really start to go wrong, eventually cancer.
Men have only one copy of certain Y chromosome genes. Without a backup we are more likely to have some specific health issues usually around fertility. Fortunately, genetics, while important only really explain around 30% of the issues while the other 70% are related to lifestyle.
Lifestyle Factors
Certain lifestyle factors have a huge impact on the health and wellness of men.
- Drinking Alcohol
Drinking more than 10 standard drinks per week doubles the incidence of Type 2
Diabetes. Cognitive function and decision-making ability decline causing an increase in risk taking behaviour and drink driving. Unfortunately, alcohol has a cumulative effect over our lifetime. Damage done to your liver can not be repaired.
- Sleep
Men who sleep 5 hours or less per night have a 60% increase in risk of heart attack.
- Body Mass Index
68% of men are overweight or obese. This is usually the result of a combination of poor diet and lack of exercise.
- Exercise
Only 42% of men get enough exercise. It only takes three 20 minutes sessions of vigorous intensity cardio exercise, or five 30 minutes moderate intensity cardio sessions per week. Add 8-10 strengthening exercises such as push ups, planks, squats, lunges, bench pressing and you are there.
Men's Gear
Men, as standard are equipped with a penis, prostate gland and testicles. Arguably the most important of the lot are the latter as they can affect your lifespan the most. However most men know next to nothing about them.
Penis:
Most people are very aware of the function of a penis. 47% of men in Australia have reported sexual difficulty for at least a month.
Prostate:
The prostate is a small walnut sized gland located just beneath the bladder and surrounding the urethra. Its job is to create prostatic fluid, and its muscle fibre propel ejaculate. Issues with the prostate can cause the following effects:
- Frequent night urination
- Difficulty starting urination or holding back urine
- Weak or interrupted flow of urine
- Painful or burning urination
- Painful ejaculation
- Difficulty in having an erection
- Blood in urine or semen
- Frequent pain or stiffness in the lower back, hips, or upper thighs
Men are advised to start getting the prostate checked from 40 years of age.
Testicles:
The testicles have two very important functions. These sex organs produce sperm and hormones, such as testosterone. Now you might wonder why these important guys sit outside the body instead of tucked away safely internally? The answer is relatively simple. Sperm production is best achieved at 36˚C. Small muscles move the testes closer to the body when exposed to a cold environment which keeps the temperature stable. The biggest concern regarding the testes is cancer, and surprisingly it usually occurs in men between 15 and 34 years old. Essentially if you are a guy, you need to start inspecting now.
Inspection:
- Take a nice warm shower or bath
- Inspect your testicles between thumb and finger
- They should feel like a smooth firm egg
- It is very common for one to be slightly larger than the other
- Gently feel one side for unusual lumps, bumps and changes in structure, then the other
- Learn what normal is so you know if there are changes
- If there are changes or pain, see your GP to arrange an ultrasound
Call to Action
We need to focus on Men’s health now. It will be too late to bring significant change later in life.
The hardest parts of addressing men’s health is that there is stigma attached to getting tested and reluctance to seek help. It is time to book a health check with your GP. Who knows, the biggest reason for looking after yourself may not even be born yet. Do something to be a healthier you today.
1 https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/conditionsandtreatments/testicular-self-examination
