Men’s Health Week is this week, and this year’s theme is “The Picture of Health”.  Why do we need a Men’s Health Week?  Males die younger than females do: Irish men’s life expectancy is 4 years less than women. Males have higher death rates than females for almost all of the leading causes of death and at all ages. Men’s poorer lifestyles are responsible for a high proportion of chronic diseases. Late presentation to health services can lead to a large number of problems becoming untreatable.

This year, men are asked to set one simple goal to improve their health.
What’s one thing you could do?

• Trash the Ash: Plan a date to quit smoking (not just swapping out for another addiction such as vaping). Check out quit.ie for support or talk to your doctor. Did you know? You are 5 times more likely to quit for good if you commit to quit for 28 days, get support to change your behaviour (GP or HSE group programmes), and use stop smoking medicine (Nicotine replacement treatment is now free through your GP or an HSE stop smoking advisor.

  • Make an appointment to meet your GP. If you haven’t seen your GP in so long that you’ve forgotten their name… make an appointment. If you don’t have a GP, register with a practice. Prevention is better than the cure. Did you know? Men are more likely to delay seeking medical care. If you are male under 45, check your testicles once a month and make an appointment with your doc if you have a new swelling, pain, lump, or heaviness. If you are over 50, you should be checking in with your doc every year. This check-up usually includes checking your blood pressure and cholesterol (risk factors for heart disease and stroke) as well as any symptoms or risks for diabetes or prostate cancer. Men with risk factors or family history may need to start in their 40’s. This check can include referral for supports to maintain a healthy weight.

  The Statistics

  Did you know? 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. Men are far less likely to be referred than women to medical weight management services, despite having higher rates of obesity.

• Make one healthy swap on your weekly menu. Add spinach to your lunch sandwich. Add breakfast if you usually skip it. Swap the sweet snack for fruit or handful of nuts.  Swap a sugary or fizzy drink for water.  Aim for a diet rich in whole grains, fruits and vegetables and low in processed foods. You can skip supplements, fad diets, and nutribabble and stick to the basics.

• Know exactly how much you drink. Calculate your weekly alcohol intake: If needed, make a plan to reduce your alcohol intake to low-risk levels and avoid binge drinking. Low risk drinking for men is fewer than 17 units of drink each week with 2 -3 days a week alcohol-free, and no more than 6 units per day. (1 pint = 2 units). Did you know? 20% of males over age 18 engage in binge drinking at least once a week.

• Take a Walk: If you are sedentary, plan a 10 minute walk this week. We (by “we”, I mean humans) all need to get regular physical activity to stay mentally and physically healthy. If you hate walking, don’t walk. Cycle. Dance. Garden. Golf. Join a sports club or men’s shed to stay active. Whatever you love to do – just move. Did you know that almost 1/3 of people in Ireland do not get regular physical activity, and almost two-thirds do not regularly get the recommended amount of activity?

• Reach out: If you have been feeling low or anxious, reach out for help. Starting with your GP is usually a good place. You can also try https://www.mentalhealthireland.ie/get-support/ Did you know that In 2021, 8,000 men called Men’s Aid to get help for domestic violence and so far for 2022, reports are up 36%. 535 men reported 2021 sexual assault. 399 deaths in Ireland by suicide in 2021; 302 were male.

• Check out a Men’s Shed this week.   Social isolation and loneliness are associated with heart disease, and may increase your risk 15-20%.

• Get tested: Getting tested for sexually transmitted infections (STI) means knowing you’re looking after your sexual health as best as you can, which is important for you and your sexual partners. Men’s Health includes gay, bisexual, non-binary, transgendered, and MSM (men who have sex with men) – even when it’s not June. Try man2man.ie for  detailed, honest, easy-to-read, and evidence-based answers. (This website also has an “emergency exit” button on the right side of the screen for privacy.) Also has information on accessing PreP as well free condoms, lube, and free at-home STI testing kits. Did you know? The overall STI notification rate in males gaed 15-19 years has increased by 8% over the last 3 years and in males aged 20-24 years it has increased by 17%?

Men’s Week ends on Father’s Day.  Studies show that men’s health behaviours have a huge impact on their children’s health behaviours.  Don’t let your sons grow up to be statistics: If you are a father – or mother – of sons, help your son learn from an early age how to talk to his doc, how to have healthy relationships, how to drink responsibly, and how to ask for help to support his mental health. Not a father yet but really want to be? Looking after your health is important: Healthy diet, regular activity, quitting smoking, and low-risk drinking all support male fertility.