Is it true that men don’t take an interest in their health? The stereotype which I accepted as gospel truth until about 10 minutes ago is that men won’t go for health checks or turn up at health and wellbeing days at work because they don’t care about their health. At conferences on occupational health, speakers have said that the problems is that health screening attracts only women and the worried well, usually both. Men who have actually got something wrong with them are even less likely to go and see a doctor or nurse because they’re frightened it might be something serious and would rather die in ignorance than find out.
Well, these beliefs about men and their health could just be myths, according to Doctor Ian Banks. Banks is the medical editor of Men’s Health magazine and has written The Man Manual , well as being president of the Men’s Health Forum. Contrary to popular belief, it isn’t true that men won’t go and see a doctor or pharmacist because they’re frightened or because they’re worried they’ll get sacked if they are ill or that their workmates will think they are gay. The 9-15 June is Men’s Health Week and I’m hoping to get a column from Dr Banks as well as an exclusive on research by the Men’s Health Forum in the June issue of Occupational Health journal. So watch this space.