Men’s Health Week is celebrated from 12-18 June, every year around the world. It is an opportunity to highlight the importance and promote and support the health and well-being of men and boys in our communities. It not only focuses on physical health but also mental health and emotional well-being.

Men, however, are less frequent visitors to GPs and there is a perception that they don’t care about health. “Australian men have a lower life expectancy, are more likely to be overweight, and experience higher rates of a range of chronic diseases in comparison to women”.

“Despite the contributions that unhealthy lifestyle behaviours make to the burden of disease, approximately 50% of men are insufficiently physically active, 97% do not consume the recommended serves of vegetables, and 71% do not consume enough fruit. About 13% of men aged 18 years and over smoke daily, and 26% consume alcohol at levels that exceed the lifetime risk guidelines. In 2020, the leading causes of death for Australian men were coronary heart disease, dementia (including Alzheimer’s disease), and lung cancer”.

“Death by suicide is more than three times as common in Australian men in comparison to women. Traditional masculine norms (e.g., stoicism, self-reliance, toughness) have stigmatized help-seeking behaviours, and further evidence suggests that service providers’ perceptions of masculinity may also hinder men’s willingness to engage with mental health support services. Likewise, men’s engagement with the healthcare system is often suboptimal and characterised by delayed access and shorter consultations”. (Ref: Sydney Western University).

This year’s focus is on Healthy habits. Encouraging men and boys to build healthy habits by identifying small changes they can make that can help them benefit their health and well-being.

In 2002, the Vienna Men’s Health Declaration set out to establish:

• Recognise men’s health is a critical issue and that there are health issues that only affect men
• Promote awareness of men’s approach to health
• Change the way health care is provided in order to be more sensitive toward men’s needs
• Create school and community programs that target boys and young men
• Connect health and social policies to better pursue men’s health goals

To summarise, Men’s Health Week aims to provide a platform to challenge and debate key issues in men’s health. Ultimately it’s out to raise the profile of men, their health needs, and outcomes.

Further information can be found at menshealthweek.org.au or the Australian Men’s Health Forum.

Chiro & Sports Med

Our chiropractors at Chiro & Sports Med are committed to providing chiropractic solutions to address your unique needs, whether you are experiencing an irritated nerve, bulging disc, back pain, neck pain, knee pain, headaches, or even muscular tightness and tension. You may be searching for pain relief after an accident or experiencing an injury.  Our mission is to help reduce or eliminate pain and to prevent future problems and injuries.  We are here to help improve your quality of life, well-being, and ability to live an active healthy lifestyle.

If you would like to make an appointment with one of the chiropractors at Chiro & Sports Med simply call our office on 9817 2005. Or alternatively, you can simply Book Online.