Men’s Health Problems
Mens Health > Men’s Health Problems
In 1998, 75% of all men surveyed in the US reported having unbearable amounts of stress (Prevention Magazine). Intolerable stress. That’s only the beginning of men’s health problems today.
Clearly, their health is as important women’s, yet the general consensus has it that they too often neglect themselves, especially when they do not have someone to nudge them, nurture them, care for or care about them. This should stop the men in the UK who—according to statistics can expect to “be seriously or chronically ill for 15 years of their lives.” (malehealth.co.uk) This should stop them long enough to nudge them.
Men’s health problems, existing and looming in the near future, should be a nudge. But since they aren’t pushy enough, I suppose for now this article (as well as a number of other articles) will have to do, will have to focus on men as they should be focused on—giving them attention and will give attention to their health concerns in ways they might not care to do.
Prioritization is something most of us are naturally, innately good at. But since what we prioritize is just as important as how we do it, it must be noted that when anyone puts his own well-being last on the list, it might be the top-listed items and people that suffer the subsequent men’s health problems. We are trying to undo this likelihood, but with the excuses of working to make ends meet, working to support a family, entertaining and dedicating time to family and friends, and then working some more…. Being what most men choose, thereby challenging the probabilities, these activities might eventually negatively contribute to the need for a man to at some point cry out that he needs time to himself.
Yes! He needs to know that taking time for selfish things is taking time for selfless things. His health in tact will ensure he can go on entertaining, providing, nurturing, and partying. His health in tact means he will not suffer and will not have to share his suffering by being (begrudgingly dependent upon others because he neglected his health, failed to even glance at the Men’s health problems his friend snuck into his briefcase or lunchbox and now is helpless.
For instance, the number of areas covered in the men’s health problems categories is one including those that should get attention--weight, liver, vision, teeth, heart, prostrate, bone joints and muscles, sexual equipment, stomach--but are, however, neglected. Is it because men feel selfish if they take time out to attend regularly scheduled appointments? Is it because men get wrapped up in enjoying or consumed by doing the twelve hundred other daily duties that the last thing they would remember is a dental cleaning or a blood pressure check?
Men’s health problems studies uncover the risks, the same ones that are revealed—in general terms—in the statistics: men are four times less likely to see a doctor than women. This is according to Dr. Hilary Jones at netdoctor.co.uk. At the same time, however, 45% of all men are overweight, and one third of them are termed clinically obese; 8.7 million men over 20 in the US alone have Diabetes (according the ADA); one million males have eating disorders (inch-aweigh.com); and in 1998, a UK research company determined that 38% of 16 to 24 year olds had a high fat intake, while 22% between 55 and 64 did as well (statistics.gov.uk). Moreover, 7 out of 8 carry at least one risk toward heart disease and/or stroke; and of all men with high blood pressure, only 25% use a medication to control it. And these are just a handful. A fistful.
So it is shame? Control? Or is it the invincibility syndrome at any age that takes over and prevents men from preventing such health problems, illness, disorders, and diseases as hypertension, peptic ulcer, heart attack, cancer…. I will ask this again, in the next ten articles, hoping to get a response. Or at least get my men friends to their first middle-age checkup.