 |
|
|
|
 |
|
 |
|
|
|
|
||||||
|
Men's health issues: the Bupa employees viewpoint 29 July 2003 In a recent survey Bupa polled its employee's views on men's health issues to go alongside the results of a similar survey into MPs' attitudes towards men's health. The results of both surveys reinforce the Bupa call for men to become more health aware and re-evaluate general attitudes towards men's health. An overwhelming 97 percent of Bupa employees think that men need just as much support and information about their health issues as women, yet only 19 percent believed enough importance is given to men's health issues in the UK media. This was reinforced by the results that less than ten percent of respondents relied on the media to find out about men's health issues. For 62 percent, their first port of call is the internet. There was some debate amongst the Bupa employees as to whether men's health issues need to be communicated differently to women's - 65 percent think not, however, a significant 35 percent think other avenues of communication need to be explored. Overall, the 97 percent response declaring that men need just as much support and/or guidance about their health as women do, would seem evidence enough that the issues need to be publicised more than is happening at present. The confusing amount and sources of health information available even affect those working within the health and care industry, as over half the Bupa respondents reported they had found it difficult to find answers to their health questions at some point. This year's Men's Health week highlighted the aspect of sexual health. However, 84 percent of Bupa employees did not consider this to be the most important health issue facing men at the moment and placed heart disease, workplace health and stress, cancer, prostate health, alcohol, smoking and obesity issues ahead of the chosen sexual health category. Equal numbers of respondents felt that cancer and heart disease were the most important health issues currently facing men. Recent figures released by Cancer Research UK state that cancer has now overtaken heart disease as the number one killer of men in the UK. Dr Annabel Bentley, Bupa's assistant medical director, looks at the issue. "From an early age, boys are told not to make a fuss - be brave and don't be a cry-baby. Men's attitudes towards their health are influenced by these cultural messages, and if as adults they continue 'not to make too much of a fuss' this could prevent them from living a long and healthy life. Many men are currently living their lives according to an adage that could end up doing them more harm than good." Statistics show that men have a shorter life expectancy than women do. They are also more likely to die from heart disease, cancer, HIV infection, accident and suicide than females, and yet they still take more health risks than members of the opposite sex. Dr Bentley said: "Men are less likely to ask for help and are prone to ignoring early symptoms and conditions. Research shows that men often underestimate the importance of early symptoms. In many conditions early diagnosis means a better chance of successful treatment and this is why raising awareness of the issues is so crucial." Dr Bentley continues: "Some of the main issues currently affecting men and their health are problems like smoking, excessive alcohol consumption and obesity. All have an impact on cancer and heart disease - the two biggest killers of men in the UK today. Men are clearly at risk and the profile of men's health issues needs to be raised in order to engage people in the serious problems that face the male population." "By increasing awareness of the health concerns that affect men today and more importantly by offering advice and guidance on how to combat these problems, we hope to help men recognise and understand the health issues that they may encounter during their life course." Dr Bentley added. Bupa's online men's health information www.bupa.co.uk/health_information/asp/healthy_living/m_health Bupa's online health information www.bupa.co.uk/health_information/
|
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
 |
 |
|
|||
|
||||||
 |
|
|
 |
|
|