Ahead of Men’s Health Week on 14 June, research was released which showed that 42 per cent of men surveyed had put off seeking advice on health concerns, and 41 per cent of those men have done so out of fear of ‘finding out what’s wrong’, compared to just 27 per cent of women. As early intervention is crucial with health concerns, men were encouraged to prioritise visiting their local pharmacist or GP when health concerns arise.
Despite listing weight, stress, blood pressure and depression as key health issues, almost half of the men surveyed said they were not likely to reach out to their GP or health professional if they have a health concern. Research by Men’s Health Forum Ireland shows that men die, on average, up to four years younger than women, and have higher death rates than women for most of the leading causes of mortality.
The main causes of death for men in Ireland are cardiovascular diseases, cancers, and respiratory illnesses, however up to 80 per cent of all heart disease is preventable through lifestyle changes and adjusting the risk factors associated with heart disease.
Forty-five per cent of men who have put off seeking advice on health concerns have done so because of cost. The European Association of Urology states that there is a high incidence of erectile dysfunction worldwide, with one study reporting 52 per cent of men aged 40-to-70 have experienced erectile dysfunction and another showed one-in-four had never heard of any of the seven most common treatments for ED.
The research was conducted by iReach on behalf of LloydsPharmacy. The LloydsPharmacy Men’s Health Check Service is a free service available in all 90 pharmacies nationwide. The service is available for those with concerns in heart disease, erectile dysfunction, diabetes, asthma, smoking cessation, sexual health, hair loss and skin conditions. All 89 pharmacies nationwide have a private care room where patients can have a one-to-one consultation with a pharmacist about any of these issues or get a free blood pressure or BMI check.
