There are a number of contributing factors, one of the largest of which is the culture surrounding men’s health.

Men are generally less proactive in seeking help for any health concerns. Women tend to be far more health conscious and are more likely to seek help earlier, meaning that their symptoms can be caught sooner rather than later.

However, unfortunately the majority of men persist in neglecting their own health and ignoring signs and symptoms until they become debilitating.

At First Aid for Life, we want to stress that if illnesses are spotted early, the prognoses and treatment is invariably so much easier and more positive.

Get regular health checks and visit your page

Recommendations for improving men’s health:

The top actions for healthier living:

1. Look after mental health – speaking about your mental health does not make you any less of a man! Telling just one other person how you’re feeling can make the world of difference.
2. Do not smoke
3. Drink moderately and sensibly
4. Be active – physically and mentally
5. Watch your weight

And vitally, men need to visit their doctor earlier and go for health checks. Men are often reticent about visiting the doctor’s which means that diagnoses are often made far later than they may otherwise have been. This has major repercussions in their prognosis.

here everything you need to know about heart health from cardiac arrest and Here’s a link to our CPR posters

Getting checked – a personal story

My brother was extremely proactive when he was concerned about his prostate. He swiftly got checked out, even when his blood tests were only just in the abnormal range. It transpired he did have prostate cancer, but because he had caught it extremely early, his treatment was relatively simple and quick and his prognosis is now excellent.

Conversely, we have a friend who ignored early bowel cancer symptoms until they were causing significant problems. They ended up requiring complex radio and chemotherapy and have a long and complex operation that has resulted in him losing most of his bowel.

Often it is the more ‘embarrassing’ symptoms that men choose to ignore, desperately hoping they will resolve themselves. Doctors and nurses will always act in a professional manner and it is far better to ask about these things early and find out if there is anything that warrants further investigation. Often the perceived embarrassment factor is honestly not as bad as is feared.

What can all of us do for men’s health?

Ultimately, men need to feel comfortable enough to speak up about how they’re feeling, whether this be physically or mentally.

Please spread the word and encourage the men in your life to speak about health and to look after themselves without embarrassment. We need to ensure men are not suffering in silence or ignoring warning signs that could lead to earlier diagnoses and treatment. Men need to be aware of their bodies and feeling comfortable asking for help.