The government is set to launch a consultation into the first UK national men’s health strategy during April. The strategy was announced by the Health Secretary Wes Streeting last November, as part of the 10 Year Health Plan aimed at addressing the current problems within the NHS.
Why is the men’s health strategy being launched?
There is currently a disparity in life expectancy between men and women, with an average lifespan of 79 years for males, compared to 83 for females in England and Wales. Furthermore, men die in greater numbers than women from preventable diseases such as heart disease and some types of cancer.
Men are also more likely to be overweight, smoke and drink, have high blood pressure, high cholesterol, type 2 diabetes and die by suicide than women. Men also died in disproportionate numbers from Covid-19: almost 20,000 more men than women died with Covid during the pandemic.
Furthermore, there is currently no national screening programme for men’s cancers such as testicular and prostate cancer. Men’s health advocates argue this is unfair because women benefit from regular checkups for female-related cancers.
What will the men’s health strategy do to tackle these issues?
We will have to wait until after the consultation before we know exactly what the men’s health strategy will involve. However, it is likely to address serious health issues that impact men more than women, including heart disease, prostate cancer, mental health and suicide.
Health professionals are also calling for ways to make it easier for men to access and engage with health services. Currently, all adults in England over the age of 40 are offered free NHS health check ups every five years, but BBC News reports that fewer than four in ten men take them up.
The health checks are designed to detect the early signs of preventable diseases, especially those conditions that tend to affect greater numbers of men than women. When interventions are staged early, problems can be nipped in the bud and the individual may go on to enjoy many more years of life in good health.
However, although the health checks do not take long, in reality many men simply don’t have time to attend a non-essential appointment because they are at work. Men are also generally less used to engaging with health services than women, so they may feel uncomfortable or underestimate the importance of taking responsibility for their health.
Prof White says: “Men are less health-literate, that is to say they don’t develop the skills to talk about their health and recognise and act on the signs. Men’s health is very static from their teenage years right through into their 40s generally – many go years without seeing a health professional.
Speaking to the BBC, Mark Brooks, the policy adviser for the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Men’s and Boy’s Issues, which has played a key role in influencing the government to draw up a men’s health strategy, said: “In society we have different expectations in regards to men. They are expected to man up and get on with things, to be strong and resilient.”
He added that there were also social and regional disparities involved, commenting: “You cannot ignore the stark differences when it comes to left-behind communities and those working in blue-collar jobs like construction and manufacturing. The way health services are designed isn’t working for men.”
“Someone working in construction or on an industrial estate will find it very difficult to take time off whether that’s for a health check or to go and see their GP.”
How can men do more to protect their health?
As well as taking advantage of the free NHS health screenings, men are advised to keep an eye on their waist size and weight, and include more physical activity if they have a largely sedentary lifestyle. Seeing friends, joining clubs or sports teams can also help men to feel connected and in good shape emotionally and mentally.
Men should be encouraged to seek treatment for issues they may find difficult to discuss, such as erectile dysfunction. This could be a sign of an underlying health problem such as high blood pressure. A doctor may offer an oral medication such as sildenafil to treat ED, which is also available to buy cheap online.
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