Men

Men?

We all know that women live longer than men but have you ever stopped to wonder why? In fact in developed countries women live 5 to 7 years longer. So is it that men are genetically programmed to live shorter lives, or is there something else?

One plausible explanation for men living shorter lives is that they just don’t prioritise their health. Ask any doctor, health care practitioner, health food shop or gym whether they see more men or women, and they will invariably favour the ladies. So why don’t us men look after ourselves?

Are we:

Stupid? Well men of course are not more or less stupid, but it would be fair to say that when it comes to health we tend to be less informed. We don’t actively seek (or listen to) advice, information or research that would help us make healthier choices.

Skeptical? Men tend to be very skeptical when it comes to health care. Whoever it is dispensing the advice, from a medical doctor to a psychic, we are just as dubious. We often don’t know who to trust, and we don’t know how to wade through all of the pros and cons of all the different advice. The key is to find a trusted health care professional who is focussed on prevention (not just cure), whose advice you feel comfortable following, and then follow it, even if you don’t notice obvious symptoms.

Time Poor? It is true that many men put their health last on their list of priorities, below their families, jobs, sport and time with their mates – in fact, it comes below pretty much everything. The fact we are missing here, though, is that without your health you cannot do any of these things, and boy are you going to miss them. A little time invested in your health will mean a lot more time and energy to do those things that you love for longer.

Lazy? When it comes to our health, many of us men are just plain lazy. We can’t be bothered putting in all that effort for a reward that isn’t always tangible. The key is to know how to measure the reward. Start noticing how you feel after doing certain things (note after, not during). How do you feel for the next few days after eating a really rich meal? Or going for a nice run? Or having a massage? Noticing how we feel in the long term as a result of our lifestyles and using that as a lever is a very effective way to motivate ourselves to get healthy.

So if we men want to change our current status as second class citizens when it comes to health, we need to start doing something about it. No, not tomorrow, now! – before you start noticing the symptoms.

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Why aren't us men looking after ourselves?