Two in five men are dying prematurely in the UK, often from entirely ‘avoidable’ health conditions.
A new report by Movember, a leading charity on men’s health, has indicated that 64% of men under the age of 75 wait more than a week before visiting a doctor with symptoms, while 48% believe it is normal practice to avoid health check-ups.
Michelle Terry, chief executive of Movember said: ‘The report findings should serve as a wake-up call to the unacceptable state of men’s health across the UK. For too long, men’s health has been relegated to the sidelines of broader health conversations. Men’s health doesn’t exist in a vacuum.’
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The report found that the health of men in the UK was worse than in many other wealthy countries, while those living in the UK’s most deprived regions were 81% more likely to die prematurely than those in the wealthiest.
The leading causes of death, the charity said, were lung cancer and heart disease, which could be prevented by cutting out smoking, reducing alcohol intake, eating well and attending health screening and appointments.
‘If we want these tragic numbers to decrease, we need to invest in education, encourage health system reform to meet the unique needs of all genders and have a dedicated men’s health strategy if we truly want to make progress,’ said Terry.
Movember is also calling for the appointment of a dedicated national director for men’s health in England and a minister for men’s health in Scotland to initiate changes.
A Department of Health and Social Care spokesman said: ‘It is the mission of this Government to get the NHS back on its feet so it is there for everyone. We know men can be reluctant to engage with health and other support services. Asking for help is not a sign of weakness and we encourage anyone to speak to their GP if they have concerns about their mental or physical health.’