How Healthy is Dad? Men's Health Week 2019
This week we’re going to talk about, men! Specifically, men and their health. It’s Men’s health week 2019 so we’re raising awareness for all the husbands and dads out there. Men’s Health Week was created to shine the spotlight on men’s health and address some of the reasons why sometimes, men don’t seek help as often as they could. This year, they’re focusing on the key numbers that paint a bigger picture of men’s health.
Many of us may enjoy gently teasing our significant others when they get sick with “man flu”. Defined as “an illness that seems to make a man more helpless and sicker than any other family member” - I know I do.
Yet, it seems that when the men in our lives really aren’t feeling themselves, they can have a tendency to keep it bottled up. This can apply to mental health, or if they’ve been suffering from nagging symptoms that won’t go away. We can all be guilty of putting off health concerns, but
studies show that men are especially reluctant to seek help if they’re experiencing certain symptoms seen as more “embarrassing”.
Being a parent can add an extra dimension when it comes to looking after our health. It isn’t just us or our partner who is affected when we’re sick - it’s our children too. Feeling the responsibility to provide for the family and be successful in a professional environment is a feeling that many fathers (and many mothers) share. This could be a contributing reason as to why the idea of asking for help is unappealing, as it may signal a perceived failure.
In Men’s Health Week numbers chart, the statistics are surprising and disturbing.
- 1 man in 5 dies before the age of 65
- 2 men in 5 die before the age of 75
- 3 out of 4 suicides are by men
These figures are represented in our own lives. The men we know and the families with sons, fathers and grandfathers missing. Men’s Health Week believes that highlighting these figures is the first step to awareness and changing behaviour.
Martin Tod, Chief Executive of the Men’s Health Forum said: “Whether it's targets for treatments or percentages of patients, health care is drowning in numbers. Which ones really matter?
For Men's Health Week 2019, the Men’s Health Forum has pulled out the key numbers. We have seven numbers we want all men to know and five statistics we want everyone working in health care to know.
At the Men's Health Forum, men of all ages, policy-makers and service-providers alike all ask what they can do to improve men's health. Knowing a few simple numbers can make all the difference.”
As well as the figures, there are a range of articles on their blog, with tips on everything from diabetes to stress in the workplace. If you’re worried about the man in your life and he is reluctant to seek help, the Men’s Health Forum blog could be a good place to start.