Men oblivious to their health issues, says study

Chennai: Men usually remain negligent of their health issues and do not seek medical help in case of any risk factors, reveals a study conducted by Movemeber Movement as part of Men's Health Week ending on June 17.

The research aimed to spread awareness among men on prevention and risks of common health problems reported highly in men.According to research, three-fourths of men do not seek medical consultation when showing signs of illness, while two-fifths consider medications unimportant. The study analyzed common physical and mental problems in men, especially prostate cancer, testicular cancer and suicide prevention.Authors of the study said that not only common illnesses, but also signs and symptoms of deadly diseases like cancer are also usually ignored by men. The study showed a common incidence of testicular cancer, but the findings said that around 44 per cent of men aged 18-40 had checked themselves for testicular cancer.One fifth of the participants could not identify symptoms of testicular cancer, more than 50 per cent of them did not know about the warning signs of prostate cancer, while 19 per cent of them did not identify the risk factors of the disease. More than 33 per cent men had to undergo a medical check-up, but around 25 percent of them avoided appointments for medical consultations. “Diabetes related complications are on high and this has severe repercussions owing to various health issues with regards to men. Accompanied by various lifestyle changes, stress related situations and improper dietary habits, diabetes is turning out to be a slow killer. But men usually neglect these issues and diabetes is only detected at a very late stage,”  says diabetologist Dr V Mohan.Psychologists say that not only diabetes and cancers, but also mental illnesses are ignored by a majority of men, of which work-related issues; depression and anxiety are the common most. Though chronic diseases are on the rise, these are diagnosed late because of negligence.