There’s a lot we know about men’s health. But a lack of access to preventative healthcare and societal stereotypes are stopping outcomes from being as good as they could be. In fact, men are 32% less likely than women to visit the doctor – particularly those of working age¹. They choose to tough it out and bottle up their thoughts instead of talking about their problems.

And as it’s November (sometimes better known as Movember), what better time for you to lift the lid on men’s health.

 

Positivity

Back in the day, Movember was all about growing a moustache and building awareness of the top three issues affecting men − prostate cancer, testicular cancer and suicide.

But that’s not all it’s about anymore. You support it in your own way. Some choose to go fundraising while others learn about health issues. But the important thing is it’s all in favour of improving men’s health and wellbeing outcomes.

 

Practicality

A lot of the expert advice for men all boils down to this – follow a healthy lifestyle². Here’s some top tips from Teladoc Health (the brains behind Smart Health) and the NHS³.   

• Stay physically active
• Follow a balanced diet
• Drink alcohol responsibly
• Try to quit smoking
• Maintain a healthy weight

 

Priorities

Positivity and practicality are great to start with. But it’s important you don’t stop there. You’ll need to get familiar with your body – this includes things like your Body Mass Index (BMI) and heart health.

Use Smart Health to your advantage and take matters into your own hands. With the online health check service, you’ll get to know yourself better. It’ll track the main health factors and give expert recommendations on tests and screening programmes. You can do this as often as you like – monthly, quarterly or yearly. There’s no limit to the number of check-ups you can get – mark a date in the diary to make it a regular thing.

Or go one step further and take the recommendations forward in to other Smart Health services − maybe a nutrition consultation or a personalised fitness plan. It’s time to form healthy habits both for the here and now and into the future.

 

¹ The Case for a Men’s Health Strategy, February 2022, All-Party Parliamentary Group on Issues Affecting Men and Boys (last accessed 11/10/2023)

² Are Telehealth Services Good For Men?, June 2023, Teladoc Health (last accessed 13/11/2023)

³ Better Health, November 2023, NHS (last accessed 13/11/2023)