28/10/2023
I've never done Movember before partly because I've always had a beard. π And does raising awareness of Men's Health issues really work.? Men grow moustaches and takes selfies, but how many of those men actually get even a basic GP check ?
This year I will be pushing men over 40 especially to get their bloods done for cholesterol etc ,blood pressure and prostates checked. Even if you run 5 km every day. A big misconception is that you have to feel unwell or have symptoms before anything can be wrong. I got 4 stents a few weeks ago and that's with me getting checked regularly. I went because of pain in chest. Lucky. I ask during first aid courses how many men go to the doctor. Scarily the answer often is never. And these guys are 45 plus. " What I don't know won't hurt me" is a common statement. That is bu****it. What you don't know could be undiagnosed High Blood pressure,which can lead to a massive stroke. Which in turn may leave you incapacitated for another 30 years with your partner and kids spoon feeding you. A simple pill or lifestyle change could be a basic solution to high blood pressure. Cholesterol is another misunderstood health issue. A common statement is " sure I exercise everyday and eat healthy, I'm 100%". Sure that is brilliant and chances are you are 100% healthy but there is also a chance you have a family inherited cholesterol problem that is undiagnosed because you have never had a cholesterol test. It's not always diet. Our livers can make too much, which in turn can help clog our arteries which can cause a heart attack or lead to cardiac arrest. Again a simple pill and diet, exercise may help you live a long healthy life. I was lucky my own was got in time.
Now lastly the oul Prostate. Men are scared sh*tless going to a doctor about anything below the belt line and above the knees. Jokes are flung around like " I would rather die from prostate cancer than have a doctor examine my prostate. " Really? Prostate problems can be flagged by a blood test checking PSA levels. If they are raised then you will need further investigation and observation. I myself have been getting checked by a consultant for the last year and unfortunately after a biopsy in September I was diagnosed a week after my stents with Prostate Cancer. I'm young. Hopefully it was got in time and my treatment will give me another 50 yrs. But let's say I was that guy not going to the doctor? . Letting things slide and ignoring sypmtoms etc. Maybe at 63 I go for my biopsy and get told I have had prostate cancer for the last 10 years and it's too advanced?? What then? Was I better not knowing? I'm sorry for long rant but I am making my mission to try and get the message across to everyone, especially men. Please go and get a simple checkup. Fasting bloods etc. I'm sure you are 100% but why not be sure. This post isn't a looking for sympathy post , it's letting you know that anyone of us can quickly become a statistic. Good health.