MEN'S HEALTH WEEK 2007 - 'MEN SITTING ON LONG-TERM HEALTH TIME BOMB'

New research for Men’s Health Week reveals extent to which men suffer in silence. Men are suffering from a range of serious but preventable disabling and potentially life threatening long term health conditions because of their reluctance to seek professional help as well as their unhealthy lifestyles, according to a new report out today.

Launching National Men’s Health Week on long term health conditions, the Men’s Health Forum says that men are more likely than women to develop conditions such as heart disease, respiratory disease and diabetes and to develop them at an earlier age.

According to a survey by The Men’s Health Forum in association with Royal Mail**, one in ten men admits to avoiding seeking help from a health professional because they are scared it might end in a hospital visit. Moreover, an additional ten per cent would rather stick their head in the sand to avoid the embarrassment of discussing their health issues with a doctor.

The research suggests that nearly seven million men in the UK (29 per cent) risk not being checked out for a health problem because they find getting in to see their GP too difficult, because of limited opening hours and problems with making an appointment.

The report says the most effective way of tackling this health ‘time bomb’ would be for health service providers to implement the new Gender Equality Duty to ensure that services are used by men and women in proportion to need. This would reduce the health gap between men and women by ensuring that services are designed, delivered and marketed to appear to both men and women.

Dr Ian Banks, President of Men’s Health Forum said: “This research supports the day-to-day experience of many health professionals that men in particular, for any number of reasons, tend to delay seeking medical help after the development of symptoms...

“If men were encouraged to take control and present for treatment earlier, they would avoid the inevitable health time bomb they currently face. Delaying treatment and ignoring symptoms allows serious conditions to develop and increases the likelihood of an emergency trip to A&E.’

Backed by over 30 other organisations, National Men’s Health Week, the annual event organised by the Men’s Health Forum to raise awareness of – and tackle – the issues affecting the health of men in England and Wales, runs from 11th-17th June. The aim is to develop effective ways of reaching men with long-term health conditions and encourage them to get the necessary health advice and treatment.

Men seeking additional advice can visit the Men’s Health Forum’s consumer website www.malehealth.co.uk for health guidance and links to further help.

**Ciao surveyed 905 UK adult men from 2nd – 15th May 2007

Article sourced from Men's Health Forum