Mens health
To celebrate Men’s Health Week (June 14th-20th) let’s have a look at some of the common beliefs about men and their health and see what the truth behind the myth is.
Fiction: Men don’t visit the doctor enough, whereas we women seem to be there a lot!
Fact: Women do visit doctors more than men but only because they have more reason to. If you don’t count visits for smears, pill prescriptions and anti-natal checks, or taking the kids for their doctor’s visits, women visit their GP no more than men.
Fiction: Men are not interested in their health
Fact: Men do care – they just need the right environment to talk about any health issues they may have. It’s important to find a doctor they respect and with whom they feel they can be open and honest.
Fiction: Men’s lifespan is always shorter than women’s
Fact: On average men don’t live to the same age as women, however the age gap is closing. In the 1970’s there was a 6 1/2 year age gap between the sexes’ lifespan, this has gradually been closing over the past 30 years and now there is only on average a 4 year gap.
Fiction: Men believe eating lots of protein will help build more muscle
Fact: New Zealand is a protein rich country and as such the average kiwi male eats a lot of protein. Eating additional protein above our threshold won’t build more muscle – in fact eating excessive protein can be taxing on the kidneys if you have a pre-existing kidney condition, and like any food eaten to excess it is simply stored as fat. An average 70kg man can get his daily protein requirements from two Weet-Bix and milk, two slices of bread, one pottle of yoghurt and one chicken breast (160g).
Fiction: Weight training is all men need
Fact: Weight/strength training is beneficial for strong bones and muscles; it also makes us feel good about ourselves. However it is also important to incorporate some cardiovascular exercise into your day. Cardio helps maintain a healthy weight, produce feel-good hormones, reduce the likelihood of cardiovascular disease, type-2 diabetes, and high blood pressure and improve cholesterol levels.
Fiction: A bit of a beer gut isn’t the same as being overweight
Fact: A growing middle-aged spread may be a source of amusement with his mates but there is no hiding the truth that an expanded mid-section increases the risk of developing coronary heart disease and type-2 diabetes. The World Health Organisation puts you at substantially increased risk if waist circumference in men is >102cm (European, Pacific Islanders and Maori) or >90cm (Asian and Indian).
Fiction: Osteoporosis only affects women
Fact: Osteoporosis is more common in women; however men can also be affected. To maintain strong bones ensure you eat plenty of foods high in bone minerals, such as dairy products or fortified dairy alternatives, and get sufficient Vitamin D. To get your requirements of vitamin D over summer aim for 10 minutes of sun exposure daily. During winter you may need up to 30 minutes and those with darker skin may need longer sun exposure. However always ensure you follow sun smart messages and cover up in the hottest parts of the day. Weight-bearing exercises such as weight training, jogging and walking are also good ways to build strong bones.
Fiction: Only women get breast cancer
Fact: Ironically men can and do develop breast cancer and sadly it is more likely to be fatal; because even if men do notice a lump, they are not as likely to immediately link it to breast cancer. Any lumps in the chest or nipple or a discharge or bleeding from the nipple should be checked out by your doctor.
So here’s to the men in our lives; fathers, partners, sons, brothers, uncles and friends. Celebrate Men’s Health Week by having a meal together.