Big boys don't cry

When it comes to health, men are notoriously bad at seeking help. They have lagged behind women in matters of health, but now it's time to catch up.

So what holds men back?
Sometimes embarrassment can get in the way, although quite often, it is due to outdated attitudes. The fact is that most health problems are simply and easily treated, but the longer they are left the less this is true.

Not only does early treatment mean it is more likely to be successful, but it also means less worry, fewer sleepless nights and peace of mind. Men are notoriously cagey about attending the doctor's surgery compared to women and many will not seek medical attention for their ailments until their physical condition seriously worsens. This has been largely attributed to an outdated sense of stoicism or pride. So I decided to delve into this topic and take a look at what various studies and research have found.

Men are from Mars…
Traditionally, women are used to talking and asking about their health because they have had more contact with doctors. This stems from regularly attending for doctors for gynaecological reasons, smear tests or bringing children to the surgery. Men might be more apprehensive. The lack of familiarity with their doctor could be putting men off attending.

A US study cited personal barriers such as a sense of immunity and immortality, difficulty relinquishing control or a belief that seeking help is unacceptable; and systematic barriers to do with time and access, having to state the reason for a visit and the lack of a male care provider.

When men do pluck up the courage to attend the surgery, they generally appreciate hearing factual information about their condition from their doctor and what can be done about it.

Fear?
Some surveys have suggested that the biggest fear among men is that a symptom will turn out to be a life-threatening illness such as cancer, whereas in fact most health problems are far less serious.

For instance, take the urinary symptoms that one in three men over 65 suffer, e.g. frequent urination, getting up at night to urinate, urgency and dribbling. The most likely cause of these symptoms is a condition called benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) rather than prostate cancer. This is a non-cancerous enlargement of the prostate that can easily be treated.

Other common problems include a lump in the scrotum or bleeding from the back passage. The chances are that these are not testicular or bowel cancer. However, if it is cancer, the earlier it is diagnosed, the greater the chances of survival.

One Irish medical editor attributes male unwillingness to confront health issues to denial and fatalism, stating that men are reluctant to 'go looking' for medical problems in case that that is exactly what they find.

An action plan for men's health produced by the North Eastern Health Board refers to the issue of stoicism in relation to mental health. The report suggests that men are less likely than women to report concerns relating to mental or emotional problems, indicating that some men seem to feel that self-revelation of personal difficulties is synonymous with an admission of failure of their masculinity. It is the pressure exerted by this masculinity to conceal emotional vulnerability that results in men being more susceptible to stress than women.

Changing times
The good news is that as men get older, they do visit doctors and hospitals more often. So what is to be done to improve this state of affairs? Certainly doctors themselves have a job to do in order to make the surgery a friendlier place for men. For a variety of reasons, many men view the surgery as a place where women go. They may derive this view from the many posters which adorn surgeries concerning breast cancer, cervical screening and child vaccination.

The Irish College of General Practitioners is planning a men's health campaign and this is a welcome initiative. Due to increasing work demands, it makes perfect sense that this is the area to target men's health. Many workplaces (ESB included) offer staff screening for heart disease and stroke and are raising health awareness in the workplace through various health promotion strategies and initiatives.

Health affects everyone. By ignoring illness, men put themselves at serious risk and their partners and children may be among the biggest losers. So, men – take your health to heart and get a full health check. It could save your life!

Ask the Nurse...

Can stomach ulcers be caused by stress?
Bill, Bray

Stress and spicy foods were once thought to be the main causes of stomach (peptic) ulcers, open sores that develop on the inside lining of the stomach, upper small intestine or oesophagus.