Are Aussie Men Neglecting Their Health?

Research shows Australian men are dismissing their health needs and taking more risks, compared to their female counter-parts. It has been found many men do not utilise health services or engage in positive health behaviours, such as a healthy diet.

Many Australian men are simply not interested in their health, and as such are more vulnerable to various disorders. A typical man’s view of health is said to be that men do not see the need to act until something goes wrong. However this attitude is possibly a major factor in the gender gap in lifespan stats; by the age of 65, females in Australia outnumber males by 25 per cent, and by the age of 85 females outnumber males by 50 per cent.

The Nitty Gritty

Leading Causes of Male Deaths

• Ischaemic Heart Disease (16.9% of total male deaths)
• Lung Cancer (6.8%)
• Stroke (6.4%)
• Chronic Respiratory Disease (4.6%)
• Prostate Cancer (4.1%)

Conditions with the Highest Burden of Disease in Men

• Ischaemic Heart Disease (11%)
• Type 2 diabetes (5%)
• Anxiety and Depression (4.5%)
• Lung Cancer (4%)
• Stroke (3.9%)

Your not as tough as you think you are

Sorry, but it’s true. Several researchers have specifically described men’s attitude toward masculinity as the reason they are reluctant to seek medical advice in order to maintain a position of power or not be labelled as weak. Ironically, this ‘toughen-up’ attitude can actually weaken your body over time by not receiving the treatment that it needs – mental or physical.

Another side-effect of perceived masculinity is risk-taking behaviour such as binge drinking or other substance abuse. Among young Australians aged 12 to 24 years there are three male deaths to every one female death, with accidents and suicide accounting for most of this difference.

Many of the risk-taking behaviours engaged in by males are utilised to display their power and strength, but in the longer term these lead to powerlessness and poor health outcomes.

Top Tip for Manly Men

The most powerful step anyone can do for their health is to take control by seeking information from a valid source on how to make the best decisions in relation to your personal well-being – after all, we all want to be as strong as possible, for as long as possible.