June was Men’s Health Month, which shines a much-needed spotlight on the physical, mental and emotional wellbeing of men. Although some men may be tired of reading articles about how they are worse at looking after themselves than women, unfortunately the statistics prove that there is still a lot of progress to be made.
In the UK, men are more likely than women to die from preventable diseases, and they are also less likely to visit their GP, sometimes delaying seeking help for treatable conditions such as erectile dysfunction (ED) out of a sense of embarrassment. This can lead to worse mental health, and also means that serious underlying conditions can be missed.
ED can be treated successfully with oral medications such as Viagra and Tadalifil. It’s now possible to make the process even more discreet and convenient in the UK with online Viagra subscriptions. After a short virtual consultation with a trained pharmacist to help them decide on the right medication for you, it’ll be posted to your address in plain packaging.
Hopefully, Men’s Health Month has prompted more men to take charge of their self-care. Here are some ways to keep that momentum going all year round.
Don’t ignore routine checkups
Currently, less than half of men take up the free NHS checkup invitations that are issued to all adults between the ages of 40-74 in England. However, these short routine checkups are designed to pick up early signs of common health conditions.
If these red flags are diagnosed and treated in the early stages, it can prevent much more serious and harder to treat health problems from developing later in life. The five-yearly checkups consist of tests for high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes or pre-diabetes, obesity, and lifestyle questions such as activity levels, and drinking and smoking habits.
Men over the age of 50 are also entitled to request a prostate cancer test. Having a routine checkup rather than waiting until something’s gone seriously wrong could mean the difference between a life spent in good health and years spent living with disease.
Understand that ED might be a red flag
ED affects almost half of all men between the ages of 40 and 70 to some degree, although fortunately there are effective treatments available. However, self-diagnosing or hoping the problem will go away on its own to avoid the discomfort of a visit to the doctors could mean that an underlying condition goes undiagnosed.
Therefore, look beyond a quick fix or burying your head in the sand: ED could mean that something isn’t right elsewhere in the body. For example, it could be a sign of:
- Heart disease
- Poor circulation
- Diabetes
- Low testosterone
- Stress, anxiety or depression
Take mental health seriously
We are now far more aware of the connection between mental and physical health, yet many men struggle to the point of burnout or crisis rather than reach out for help. This is often due to a misguided belief that silence is a sign of strength and control, and ‘real men’ don’t have emotional difficulties.
However, life is tough for everyone at times, and we are not always able to deal with it by ourselves. Men can be less aware of the signs of stress and depression, and it can manifest in other unhealthy ways, such as drinking or smoking too much; poor sleep; anger and irritability or risk taking; or becoming socially withdrawn and isolated.
Low mood and anxiety not only affect the mind, but also lead to low energy levels, poor motivation, loss of libido, and can impact hormone balance. This in turn can damage careers, relationships, and have an overall negative impact on quality of life.
It’s time that men take mental health seriously and talk to a doctor, therapist, or trusted friend if they are struggling. Sometimes, taking the first step and getting the issue out in the open is the most powerful way to take control of your emotional wellbeing.
Keep on top of the basics
It’s the basics that provide us with strong foundations for good health: a well balanced diet; regular exercise; moderate alcohol intake; and seven to eight hours of good quality sleep per night. This doesn’t have to involve sacrificing all treats, but small consistent habits add up to good health.
Recent Comments