Men are dying early. These are the health issues I talk to them about as a nurse

Men are being urged to visit their general practitioner for a health check as a new report finds that more than a third die early from preventable causes.

The 2024 Real Face of Men’s Health Report reveals that men are less likely than women to visit a doctor and delay seeking help when they are unwell.

The Australian report found that 60 per cent of men wait more than seven days with symptoms before visiting a doctor and 53 per cent think it’s normal to avoid regular health checks.

One in three men admit to feeling confused by health information, and 63 per cent feel that gender stereotypes, such as “toughing it out”, have affected their health behaviours.

From 2020 to 2022, the leading causes of premature death for men were heart disease, lung cancer, suicide, colorectal cancer, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

While the causes are largely avoidable through lifestyle and behavioural changes, the barriers to achieving change are much more complex.

Gender norms and stereotypes are still a factor, as well as a person’s race and culture, sexual orientation, financial health, and geographic location.

About 50 men a day die from preventable causes and one in five dies prematurely before the age of 65. Two in five (37%) die before
the age of 75. Sadly, suicide is the leading cause of death for men aged 15-44 years.

The 142-page report, by the Movember Institute of Men’s Health, found that men are more likely than women to smoke, have high blood pressure, be physically inactive and overweight, and have poorer nutrition.

Men are also more likely to suffer from alcohol use disorders (59% higher), drug use disorders (93% higher) and road traffic injuries (238% higher).

The Australian Medical Association said it was essential to shine a light on men’s health and help them to live happier, healthier lives.

AMA president Dr Danielle McMullen said regular visits to a GP was one of the most effective ways for men to safeguard their long-term health and wellbeing.

“A trusted GP can detect potential health concerns before they become serious, provide essential mental health support, and work with you on preventative strategies to help reduce the risk of chronic conditions later in life,” she said.

“Regular visits to the same GP can significantly improve long-term health outcomes by assessing risk factors before they escalate.”

Despite the gendered health gap, Australian men are faring better than those in most other countries and rank sixth for life expectancy. The top five countries are Switzerland, Iceland, Norway, Japan and Sweden.

A male born in Australian between 2019 and 2021 is expected to live to the age of 81.

WHAT I SAY TO THE MEN I KNOW AS AN ICU NURSE

Since becoming a nurse in 2020, I have seen first-hand the gendered differences in serious health issues facing men.

They are more likely to be critically injured or die from accidents, assaults, suicide, and drug and alcohol dependence.

Having seen the devastating outcomes and the ripple effect through families, it has prompted me to have conversations with loved ones about reducing the risks and promoting their health and wellbeing.

These are the Top 5 things I say to the men in my life.

Check on your mates

In 2023, more than 45 men a week died by suicide – a total of 2419 men lost in just 12 months.

It’s a shocking statistic that has the attention of the Australian Men’s Health Forum, one of the peak bodies for men’s health in Australia.

It found that 1 in 2 men will have a mental health disorder in their lifetime and that men who lack close friends are twice as likely to experience suicidal thoughts.

The organisation designed the “Help a Mate” guide, which gives insight into the warning signs that someone might be struggling and what to say and do in those situations. The link is below.

Suicide is unfortunately something you see regularly in ICU and even for those who make it to hospital the outcomes are not always good.

It is so sad and agonising for family and friends dealing with the compounded trauma of losing a loved one to self-harm.

If you or someone you know is doing it tough, call Lifeline on 13 11 14, MensLine on 1300 78 99 78, or the Suicide Call Back Service on 1300 659 467. If someone is in immediate danger call 000.

Stay off ladders and roofs

As soon as I started my nursing career, I told my now elderly Dad that he was no longer allowed to climb ladders.

Almost six years down the track and I have lost count of the number of men I have seen with life-threatening injuries after falling off ladders, roofs, balconies or through skylights. It is a common occurrence.

You don’t have to fall far to die from head injuries and since it’s mostly men who do this type of work – either as paid employment or at home – they are at higher risk.

In 2023-24, more than 20 people a day where hospitalised in Australia after falling off ladders or building structures.

At the very least, I encourage the men I know to leave this type of work to the experts, not home handymen, or if they have to climb a ladder to be safety conscious.

That means, non-slip shoes, clothes that can’t get caught on anything, making sure they feel well, waiting for good weather (no wind or rain), and using ladders that are the right height and in good working order.

And always have someone keeping watch. As in, actively watching – not someone inside the house who suddenly realises they haven’t heard you making any noise for a while.

Find a doctor you like and tell them everything

I strongly advocate for men to find a general practitioner they feel comfortable with and to tell them absolutely everything about their physical and mental health – no guilt, no shame, no I’ll be right.

I think of GPs as the backbone of our healthcare system and one of the most important relationships of your life.

They are highly qualified specialists, with 10 to 15 years of education and training, and the first line of defence for your health.

They are the doctor you go to for everything and, when needed, they then refer you for tests and to other specialists.

At a minimum, everyone should be having a health check every year, even if they feel good. Being proactive means early detection, early intervention, and preventative strategies and screenings to keep people healthy.

A men’s health check includes monitoring blood pressure, blood sugar, cholesterol, heart health, mental health and cancer screenings, such as skin, bowel and prostate.

Regular checkups allow you to develop a relationship with your doctor and for them to provide holistic care and help you to properly monitor and manage your health.

Health checks save lives.

Take your prescribed medication even if you “feel fine”

The men’s health report found that men are more likely to avoid regular health checks and less likely to follow health advice.

The reality is, you can’t feel silent killers, such as high blood pressure or high cholesterol, but you can manage them.

I have seen so many people die from brain haemorrhages caused by high blood pressure. Or left with permanent disabilities from strokes. Or struggling to breathe from heart and lung diseases. Or with limbs amputated because of diabetes. Or bleeding internally because of alcohol.

There’s a reason doctors prescribe medications, along with lifestyle changes, for health issues and that reason is to keep people alive and healthy.

Lay off the booze, or at least try to cut down

What alcohol does to your body is awful and, to be honest, really gross. I won’t go into the gory details, but when your liver function is impaired it has nasty consequences for the rest of your body.

But it’s not just the liver that’s affected. The consumption and metabolism of alcohol affects every cell in your body, damaging your heart, brain, blood vessels, lungs, gut, immune system, and increasing the risk of multiple cancers.

Not to mention alcohol’s contribution to accidents, such as falls, assaults and the negative effect it has on people’s mental health.

There are really no upsides that outweigh the risks.

Of course, there’s no judgement in ICU when people present with alcohol-related issues. You never know what people have been through and heavy drinking is still so normalised in many social settings.

But the sooner you cut back on your alcohol consumption the better off you’ll be, and there are services available to help for those who need it. I’ve included links below.