L17 Men's health awareness/health checks

Life expectancy for Māori and Pacific men is 73 years and 74.5 years, respectively, compared with 79 years for non-Māori males.

Choose the incorrect statement.

Over half of Health Research Council funding allocated to men’s health issues since 2010 has been awarded to projects concentrating on [blank_start]prostate or testicular[blank_end] cancer. However, prostate and testicular cancer combined account for just 4.4% of all annual male deaths. [blank_start]Lung[blank_end] cancer accounts for 5.8% of all male deaths each year, followed by [blank_start]colorectal[blank_end] cancer at 4.3%. Among all cancers, hospitalisation for prostate and testicularcancer is low. The highest hospitalisation rate is reported in [blank_start]skin cancer[blank_end] patients (1.9% of hospitalisations).

NZ has the third highest adult obesity rate in the OECD.

Five signs men shouldn’t ignore: 1. Chest pain It's important to have any chest pain checked out by a doctor straight away. There are a number of important conditions to be considered such as: a blood [blank_start]clot[blank_end], a [blank_start]lung[blank_end] condition such as pneumonia, asthma, anxiety, heart problems, angina, or a digestive problem such as acid reflux or a stomach ulcer. 2. A big belly Visceral fat (the stuff that hugs the gut) can increase the risk of [blank_start]diabetes[blank_end] and [blank_start]coronary artery[blank_end] disease. A stomach can also become larger due to fluid, not fat, from illnesses such as [blank_start]liver[blank_end] disease. Too much visceral fat can lead to inflammation and [blank_start]high[blank_end] blood pressure, which increases the risk of serious health problems. 3. Erectile dysfunction About 70% of cases of erectile dysfunction are caused by another underlying condition. 4. Constipation While being ‘blocked up’ could be a heads up that someone needs to change their diet to include more high-fibre and plenty of fluids, it could also be a warning sign of [blank_start]bowel[blank_end] disease. Any change in bowel habits (constipation or diarrhoea) that last [blank_start]two[blank_end] or more weeks should be checked out by a GP. Both can signal colorectal cancer, which is the [blank_start]thirdleading[blank_end] cause of cancer-related death in men. Other symptoms to watch for include: bloody or narrow stools, unexplained weight loss or fatigue, cramping and bloating. Colorectal cancer can be present for several years before symptoms develop, so it’s important to refer to a doctor any of the above symptoms are present. 5. Frequent urination If someone develops ‘bladder issues’ and are constantly plagued with the need to pee, they should be referred to the doctor. Frequent urination may represent a problem in your [blank_start]prostate[blank_end] or a [blank_start]urinary[blank_end] infection.

1 in 8 men experience depression at some stage of their life.

Men are more likely to recognise and describe the [blank_start]physical[blank_end] symptoms of depression (such as feeling [blank_start]tired[blank_end] or losing weight) than women. Men may acknowledge feeling irritable or [blank_start]angry[blank_end], rather than saying they feel low. Depression isn't just about feeling sad or frustrated; it can be about feeling out of control, powerless to handle emotions and unable to see a way out. Factors which can contribute to depression in men: ◦ Physical health problems ◦ Relationship problems ◦ Family problems ◦ Employment problems ◦ Drug and alcohol consumption ◦ Social [blank_start]isolation[blank_end] ◦ Significant change in [blank_start]living[blank_end] arrangements (e.g. separation or divorce)

Between the ages of 15–30 years, suicide is the leading cause of death for men.[blank_start]12[blank_end]% of male suicide attempts result in death, compared to just [blank_start]2[blank_end]% for women. This disparity may arise from higher suicidal intent among men compared with women. Some of the most common triggers for suicide are: [blank_start]breakup[blank_end] of a relationship, debilitating physical illness or [blank_start]accident[blank_end], death of someone [blank_start]close[blank_end], a [blank_start]suicide[blank_end] of someone famous or from a peer group, or bullying or discrimination.

Compared to women, men visit the doctor less often, have shorter consultations, and tend to see their GP later.

Men have a slight preference for female health providers.