Updated June 2021.

(TRIGGER WARNING: This post discusses mental health and suicide)

Men!  We need to talk…Men’s Health Week has just finished and it brings into sharp focus some of the truly startling statistics around men’s health in Australia.  We’ve compiled a list of five of the top issues facing men’s health, and the first steps you or the man in your life can take to address them.

The State of Play

• One in two men don’t exercise enough
• Three in four men are overweight or obese
• One in two men have a chronic condition
• One in two men have experienced a mental health issue
• More than one in two men have experienced sexual difficulty
• Fewer than 1 in 30 men eat the recommended amount of fruit and vegetables.
• Prostate cancer is the most common cancer facing men and…
• Coronary heart disease is the number one killer of Australian men.

So let’s look at that last one first…

Coronary Heart Disease (or cardiovascular disease)

In 2017, 26% of all deaths by Australian males can be attributed to cardiovascular disease.  Why so high?

Because there are can be a lot of contributing factors including:      

• Smoking
• High cholesterol
• High blood pressure
• Diabetes
• Inactivity
• Being overweight or obese
• Eating a poor diet
• Suffering from mental health issues.

How can we help?

The first step with ANY health concern is to contact a health professional for a thorough, individual assessment based on your medical history and circumstances. Assessing your heart health with a SwiftDoc GP might involve starting off with a blood test. It’s as simple as getting the blood test form emailed to you, you get the test, then we email you the results.  The outcome of the tests will determine the next steps.

There’s also a handy little online tool you can use to check your heart age.  If your heart age is more than your actual age, it’s another trigger to book an appointment with us for a chat.

Prostate Cancer

Sadly prostate cancer kills around 3,500 men in Australia each year.  It is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in Australian men, and it kills more men than breast cancer kills women. 

It is also the sixth leading cause of death for Australian men – so worth talking about!

One of the issues with prostate cancer is that there might not be any symptoms initially.  Some symptoms you may experience are discomfort or difficult urinating, or the frequent or sudden need to urinate.  Blood in the urine is another possible symptom.

How can we help?

As always, the recommendations of your GP are guided by your own personal medical history. Your SwiftDoc GP may start by ordering a Prostate Specific Antigen blood test.  This tests for the levels of this protein.  Depending on the results, next steps could be an ultrasound, an MRI or even a biopsy. 

Getting the blood test done is an easy first step – we email you the form, you get the test, then we email you the results.

Cure rates for prostate cancer are improving, but sadly there is still a way to go.  If you are at all concerned, don’t hesitate to book an appointment for a chat.

Mental Health

It’s a shame that this topic makes the list, but sadly, nearly half of all men have experienced a mental health disorder.  Even worse, mental health issues in men are becoming more prevalent, and especially so in relation to Covid-19, and stresses around the uncertainty of the pandemic, job insecurity, extended lockdowns and long periods without seeing friends or family.  In fact, during the nationwide lockdown in 2020, there was a significant increase in the use of Medicare-subsidised mental health Telehealth services, calls to Lifeline and Beyond blue, and prescriptions for mental health related medication.

The most heartbreaking statistic of all is that men comprise on average, six out of every eight suicides every day in Australia.  That’s almost twice the number of fatalities as the road toll, and suicide remains the number one cause of death for Australians aged between 15 and 44.

Men in particular sometimes have a habit of pushing mental health into the background.  But like every other medical condition what you need is an action plan for recovery.

How can we help?

In a consultation with one of our SwiftDoc GPs, they may discuss things such as stress management, sleep, medication, or refer you for psychological support.  We can help right away, and you can talk to us from the comfort of your own home.  We also have excellent mental health practitioners who can consult with you online as well.

There are lots of reasons for a decline in mental health.  Whatever the reason, we encourage you to talk to trusted family and friends, and engage a GP for professional support.

Diabetes

The statistics around diabetes are truly mind-blowing:

• Around 280 Australians are diagnosed every day, that’s one person every five minutes!
• 5.7% of Australian men have been diagnosed with diabetes.
• Diabetes is the leading cause of preventable blindness.
• Diabetes leads to over 4,400 amputations per year in Australia.
• Heart disease is the number one cause of death for people with type 2 diabetes.
• Those with diabetes are 2-4 times more likely to develop heart disease (and 10-15 years earlier too). 

Even more alarmingly, diagnoses of both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes is growing at a much faster rate than any other chronic disease.  It goes without saying that this is a significant issue facing Australian men.  Type 1 diabetes can’t be prevented, but you may be able to delay or even prevent Type 2 diabetes. 

How can we help?

We encourage you to talk to a SwiftDoc GP as soon as possible.  In the consultation, we may run through things such as lifestyle changes you can make, and medical management options for your diabetes diagnosis. 

Sexual Health

This is a big topic, so to narrow it down, we’re just going to chat about male infertility.

Did you know that around 30% of fertility issues originate in the man?  This could be due to poor quality sperm, low sperm count, a blockage, functional problems or hormonal problems. 

Obviously this can impact a couple’s chances of a successful pregnancy.

Did you also know that male infertility issues are on the rise?

Low sperm count is more common than ever and as men are starting families at a later age, sperm quality is lower too (busting the myth that men’s virility doesn’t decline with age).

There are also lifestyle factors that may play a part such as:

• Smoking
• Drinking
• Poor diet
• Obesity
• Stress.

How can we help?

With so many factors in play, we suggest you start by chatting with a SwiftDoc GP.  They may run through all these lifestyle factors with you, and run some tests to check your hormones and sperm count/quality.  Depending on the outcome of those, they may also arrange scans for further investigation.  They can also advise you on your options such as IVF. 

Phew! That’s a lot to take in…

But we hope that this information has encouraged more men to seek help with their health, and to adopt a proactive rather than reactive approach to their healthcare.

Of course, everyone is different, so contacting a GP is always a good first step.

Book an appointment to discuss any of these (or any other medical concerns) today.

Sources:

• AIHW
• Heart Foundation
• Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia
• Cancer Council
• Beyond Blue
• Diabetes Australia
• Better Health Victoria

This website does not provide medical advice.  It is intended for informational purposes only.  It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.  Never ignore professional medical advice in seeking treatment.  If you think you may have a medical emergency, immediately dial Triple 0 (000).