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Is men's health neglected?
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Is men's health neglected?
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In an article in the Guardian, Ayan Panja says: "We know that men die younger, smoke more, drink more alcohol and ignore symptoms more than women... Most men know the score around diet, exercise, alco
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Is men's health neglected?

posted at 13/6/2012 1:04 PM BST on bmj.com
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In an article in the Guardian, Ayan Panja says:

"We know that men die younger, smoke more, drink more alcohol and ignore symptoms more than women... Most men know the score around diet, exercise, alcohol and smoking but can be high-risk individuals when it comes to health, and as a GP I know this all too well. That fear – and I am not sure if it is fear of illness or fear of being judged or both – of the doctor opening up a cornucopia of illnesses when you only popped in because you wanted a quick fix for the bad back you've put up with for six months, is not to be underestimated....."

Panja goes on to say that "men are taught to cope with stuff and just get on with it from an early age. They have not had the same long-term relationship with doctors surgeries as women (smear tests, contraception, antenatal care etc). And there are still no mandatory health checks for men in the NHS."

Can anything truly be done to improve outcomes for men? Will they always not be as good as women at looking after their health? Or are women naturally able to live longer - should we just accept it as a fact of life?

http://www.guardian.co.uk/healthcare-network/2012/jun/13/mens-health-campaign-time-new-approach

Re: Is men's health neglected?

posted at 13/6/2012 3:30 PM BST on bmj.com
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First: 27/3/2012
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Yes, it is a fact that men generally tend to neglect self healthcare aspects than the women.
This picture although looks difficult to handle with, something positive can definitely be achieved by arranging general public healthcare awareness programs & group community discussions. The social media could help us a lot regarding public broadcast of healthcare awareness programs & interpersonal communication & interaction.

Re: Is men's health neglected?

posted at 13/6/2012 8:07 PM BST on bmj.com
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Ahem!
Pedant Alert!

"Are mens' health neglected?"


I suspect that our GP colleagues will tell us that it is the men who neglect their own health, and save up several nasty conditions until they can interrupt their busy lives at make it down to the surgery.  Women can multitask, men can't.

John

Re: Is men's health neglected?

posted at 13/6/2012 11:10 PM BST on bmj.com
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I think the business of women multitasking but men can't is rubbish, isn't it?

Fighter pilots do a lot of things at once, and some of them are men, aren't they???

And shouldn't it be

"Are men's health neglected?"  as the health belongs to the men, not the mens.....  Whichever way, it sounds odd.  

"Do men neglect their own health needs?"

Too late in the day to think about grammar, innit?

What was the question?  Men's Health.  Yes, they don't go to the doctors early enough.  The reasons I suspect are multifactoral, including stubborness, pride, lack of time, a tendency to bury their head in the sand, and simple ignorance....


Re: Is men's health neglected?

posted at 14/6/2012 4:45 AM BST on bmj.com
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As a lot of disease is iatrogenic (iz. Ian Illich's Medical Nemesis), men's avoiding doctors may be a survival advantage. 

Re: Is men's health neglected?

posted at 14/6/2012 5:53 AM BST on bmj.com
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John,  Men can multitask too,   I do it all the time.    DuaneF


In Response to Re: Is men's health neglected?:
Ahem! Pedant Alert! "Are mens' health neglected?" I suspect that our GP colleagues will tell us that it is the men who neglect their own health, and save up several nasty conditions until they can interrupt their busy lives at make it down to the surgery.  Women can multitask, men can't. John
Posted by John D

Re: Is men's health neglected?

posted at 14/6/2012 8:57 AM BST on bmj.com
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JohnD's correct - men, by and large, choose to neglect their own health so it's certainly not the fault of the system.

Re: Is men's health neglected?

posted at 14/6/2012 9:37 AM BST on bmj.com
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Thanks John

I was doubting my own grammar skills when I saw the Guardian article, which uses Men's health... so I just went with that. I would have usually gone with 'mens' health' but when I do a Google search they all use the style used in the Guardian.


In Response to Re: Is men's health neglected?:
Ahem! Pedant Alert! "Are mens' health neglected?" I suspect that our GP colleagues will tell us that it is the men who neglect their own health, and save up several nasty conditions until they can interrupt their busy lives at make it down to the surgery.  Women can multitask, men can't. John
Posted by John D

Re: Is men's health neglected?

posted at 14/6/2012 9:38 AM BST on bmj.com
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We're just not as good as women at addressing health problems. Can that ever change or should we just accept it as a fact of life?

In Response to Re: Is men's health neglected?:
JohnD's correct - men, by an larg, choose to neglect their own health so it's certainly not the fault of the system.
Posted by skyesteve

Re: Is men's health neglected?

posted at 14/6/2012 10:48 AM BST on bmj.com
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It's a fact of life Matthew - like men don't know how to clean a toilet bowl!
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