This week 15-21 June is Men’s Health Week. Why is it important to dedicate a whole week to? Men suffer more illness, accidents and die younger than women (4.4 years on average!).
The top 3 reasons for reduced lifespan in men are:
- Cardiovascular Disease
- Suicide
- Motor Vehicle Accidents
Did you know?
- Men live 4.4 years less than Women
- The last 11 years will be in poor health
- Men are more likely to die from heart disease at earlier ages
- They have a significantly higher risk of dying from liver disease
- 80% of spinal cord injuries occur in young men
- 70% of all developmental and learning disabilities affect boys
- Men have an increased risk of dying from diabetes
- Globally, alcohol kills almost 6 times more men than women
- Inactive men are 60% more likely to suffer from depression than those who are active
- Additionally, men make up 56% of the workforce and yet 94% of all workplace fatalities are men.
Only 30% of a man’s overall health is determined by his genetics. 70% is controllable through lifestyle. Having a Y chromosome is not an excuse for unhealthy lifestyle choices!
Things you can do to improve your health:
- Drink less – Those who consume 4-10 drinks a week at most have a lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Drinking more than 10 drinks a week almost doubles your risk of type 2 diabetes.
- Get more sleep – Men who sleep 7-8 hours a night have about 60% less risk of a fatal heart attack than those who sleep 5 hours or less.
- Find 30 – Men who climb 50 stairs or walk 5 city blocks a day may lower their risk of heart attack by 25%
- Eat better – Getting your 5-7 servings of fruit and veg is as simple as a glass of orange juice, one potato, one big carrot, ½ an avocado and a pear
Understandably so far 2020 has been a doozy. Coronavirus has had us in lockdown. Sport and socialisation has been stopped, and many have lost their jobs whilst we are staring down the barrel of an inevitable recession. How is your mental health going? Are you more connected and fitter than ever?
This is the perfect time to take a step back and get some perspective. What matters to you? What are your goals? If you aren’t happy then make some changes to get where you want to be with your health. Talk to your friends, family and GP. They are all crucial in getting the help that you need, whatever the issue.
There are also some great websites offering information and support:
Remember that it is always OK to ask for help, no one can do it all on their own.
This article has been written by Dr Timothy Yap
