Married men life longer than unmarried men. As the old joke goes:  do they really live longer or does it just seem that way?   But the statistics prove that, regardless of perception, there is a 2 year advantage to marriage. There are a few reasons but one of the most important is is that men are more likely to engage in health behaviour, such as making that doctor’s appointment, when encouraged to do so by a partner.  And I see this in my practice: I have far, far more female patients than male patients, and the overwhelming majority of my male patients have been brought to me (some, I suspect under more duress than others) by their female patients, whether it is regarding heart health, fertility, or diabetes. 

Both Movember and International Men’s Day highlight some stark statistics:

• Irish men’s life expectancy is 4 years less than women

• 3 out of 4 suicides in Ireland each year are among men.

• 3890 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer in Ireland each year; 1 in 7 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in Ireland in their lifetime

• Around 200 men are diagnosed with testicular cancer each year in Ireland. It is the most common cancer in men under 45

• 66% of men are above a healthy weight or have obesity, contributing to the high rate of death from heart disease, stroke, and respiratory disease.  Even though more men than women have obesity, men make up around only 10% of referrals to obesity medicine programmes**

• 20% of males over age 18 engage in binge drinking at least once a week.

• Males have much higher rate of work-place injury and work-place fatalities much more common in men

• 14 November is World Diabetes Day:  Type 2 Diabetes is more common in men than women in Ireland, and men are more like to have complications from diabetes

Here are 10 ways to look after men’s health this November:

• If you are male under 45, check your testicles once a month and make an urgent appointment with your doc if you have a new swelling, pain, lump, or heaviness.

• If you are over 50 and you  haven’t seen your doc in more than a year, make an appointment.

• Do you know your blood pressure?

• Do you know your cholesterol?

• Do you know your blood sugar?

• How much are you really drinking?  Calculate your weekly intake honestly, and if needed, reduce your alcohol intake to low-risk levels and avoid binge drinking. For men, this is less than 17 standard drinks spread out over the week, with at least two alcohol-free days.

• Get moving – you need 150 minutes per week!

• Be social: Volunteer, join a sports club or men’s shed to stay active. It’s important part of your mental health.

• Reduce red meat to no more than 3 portions per week, and reduce processed meats to as little as possible.

• Mammas, Don’t let your sons grow up to be statistics: If you are a mother of sons (I’m one!), helping your son learn from an early age how to talk to his doc, how to have a healthy relationships, how to drink responsibly, and how to ask for help to support his mental health.

**If you are a healthcare professional, you can read more in my article breaking down Obesity and Men’s Health written for the November issue of “Hospital Professional News Ireland”