Let’s begin with a simple sentence - Health is important. And, while we argue that it is essential for every living being, on some days, we need to wind down and focus on one kind to bring awareness, information, and prevention to the forefront. We are talking about Men's Health Week. 

Initiated by Congress in 1994 in the USA, the main idea behind the week-long campaign was to encourage early detection of any potential health issue and prevent it. Observed from 15th-21st June, it aimed to shift the focus from treatment to prevention, emphasising breaking stigma, preventing illness, and spreading true and correct information. It encouraged men and boys to seek out any pertaining issues and gain the courage to do something about them. Today, Men's Health Week is observed everywhere with the help of events, talks, free diagnosis, awareness, and information. 

According to an article by the Guardian, the male suicide rate was the highest in two decades in England and Wales in 2019. 16.9 deaths per 100,000 were due to male suicide, the highest since 2000 (ONS data). The pandemic played a role in the increasing numbers, but the real cause was stress, mental health issues, and the idea that men have to wear an armour of steel instead of emotions. Many physical diseases need to be discussed during the Men's health week, including prostate cancer, diabetes, osteoporosis, high blood pressure, heart disease, etc. However, when the issues move past the physical realm, the taboo becomes more real and ingrained. 

Let’s take a look at the most common issues that affect Men’s Health. 

Common Issues that affect Men's Health

Many physical and mental health issues are faced by men and boys all across the globe. While the idea behind Men's Health Week is to encourage them to look for help and be comfortable with their own bodies, there are a few common issues that need to be addressed and discussed among society. 

Let's take a look at a few of them.

1. Erectile Dysfunction, Premature ejaculation, or Fertility Issues

According to the data available on the net, up to 60 per cent of men face issues relating to erectile dysfunction, fertility and premature ejaculation. And yet, we see a hesitation when they have to seek professional help for these issues. The stigma associated with 'impotence', a redundant word now, many men hide within the closed corner of shame. However, if we see the stats, premature ejaculation affects one man in three, concluding that it is not a taboo but a very general issue among men. 

Similarly, erectile dysfunction is when a man has difficulty getting or maintaining a satisfactory erection. It can be due to multiple factors, including psychological, hormonal or blood flow. The cause is easily detected by the doctor, allowing you to go back to normal days. The idea is to ask for help rather than hide the issue and let it wreak havoc on your life. 

2. Prostate Cancer

Prostate cancer is an extremely common issue that affects men - almost one man in seven. It takes 10-15 years to develop and can be exceedingly fatal if it goes undetected. There is an early detection tool, and if detected within the first or second year, it is usually curable. 

If you have a history of prostate or breast cancer in the family or are above 50, it is a good idea to go for an annual blood test, even if you exhibit zero symptoms. If you don't fall into the above category, get tested every 2-3 years to ensure nothing is brewing underneath.

3.  Cardiovascular Disease

 

Almost 30 percent of mortality in the world is attributed to cardiovascular disease. In fact, heart disease is still the first cause of death in men in the UK. And according to data, men are more likely to develop heart diseases than women. As men tend to pay less attention to stress, healthy diet, lifestyle, and the symptoms, the disease creeps in and affects men disproportionately. 

 Some of the common signs of heart diseases in men are:

  • Weakness, fainting, or dizziness
  • Unexplained pain in the jaw, neck, or torso
  • Irregular heartbeat - either too quickly or too slowly
  • Discomfort in the chest for more than 30 minutes
  • Loss of stamina, easily out of breath while exercising or doing a simple task

Watch out for the symptoms, making sure you go for regular checkups, build a healthy lifestyle, and put your well-being first. 

4. Diabetes and Blood Pressure

 

Looking at the statistics, around 2.4 per cent of men (92,690) aged between 35-44 and 6 percent of men (197,050) aged between 45-54 in England have diabetes. If undiagnosed or ignored, diabetes can cause significant damage to the body. 

Type 1 diabetes can quickly deteriorate and can even lead to coma and death, whereas Type 2 diabetes creeps in slowly and damages the organs before more noticeable symptoms are spotted. 

Similarly, High blood pressure is the third biggest risk factor in the UK that affects around 31% of men in England. One of the biggest causes for high BP is an unhealthy lifestyle and carelessness when it comes to taking care of physical health.

5. Men and Mental Health

In England, one in eight men is affected with a mental health issue like depression, anxiety, panic disorder or obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). These are just the reported numbers as many cases go undiagnosed, especially regarding men's mental health. 

 

Traditional gender roles, societal expectations and the need to look tough discourages men from discussing or seeking help for their mental health issues. Men are damaged by the stereotypes as much as women are, and as breadwinners or the more “strong” gender, they are expected to be always in control and be less emotional or sensitive. These unfair expectations make them less averse to opening up or speaking out whenever faced with any issues or problems. Bottling up leads to using potentially harmful coping methods such as drugs or alcohol, which might lead to further physical health issues. 

We all prosper when someone comes forward and takes care of themselves.

Break the stigma, ask for help!