Men’s health – good physical health for blokes
Too many blokes don’t seek help when they have a health hassle until it gets really bad.
Men suffer from some physical conditions more than women. Leading causes of premature death in men include heart-related diseases and various forms of cancer – especially lung and prostate cancer – stroke, diabetes and suicide. Many of these conditions are preventable.
Living a healthier lifestyle
Staying physically active and eating a healthy diet will do a lot to maintain your health and wellbeing.
Just 30 minutes of exercise/moderate activity on most days of the week (at least 2.5 hours per week) will help you stay healthy.
We should all enjoy a variety of healthy foods. Include lots of fruit and vegetables in your diet and aim for meals that are low in saturated fats, added sugars and added salt. This can help protect your body from chronic disease.
Drinks and smokes
Drinking more than 2 standard drinks on any day increases your risk of harm from alcohol-related disease or injury over a lifetime. Drinking more than 4 standard drinks on a single occasion increases the risk of alcohol-related injury arising from that occasion.
Smoking leads to cancer, heart disease, emphysema and many other health problems. If you smoke, talk to your GP about quitting.
Health checks
Your general practitioner (GP) is there to treat you if you feel unwell, but also to prevent future health problems. One way of doing this is to identify existing or potential things that may affect your health (known as ‘risk factors’).
Your GP may want to detect an illness in its early stages so that it can be treated more effectively. This could involve tests such as checking your blood pressure.
“Some fellas – say, with heart, prostate or skin cancer – leave it too late, when a check-up at the doc’s would have picked it up.” – Dave, 32, nurse
Your GP can also help you improve your health by changing your lifestyle. Even if you feel healthy and don’t think you need a GP, it is still a good idea to have regular health checks.
This publication is provided for education and information purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional medical care. Information about a therapy, service, product or treatment does not imply endorsement and is not intended to replace advice from your healthcare professional. Readers should note that over time currency and completeness of the information may change. All users should seek advice from a qualified healthcare professional for a diagnosis and answers to their medical questions.