Men's Health

The truth is, men are often known to be more indifferent towards their health when compared to the efforts of women, who proactively and publicly address their health issues in a way not traditionally seen with men. As a result, today the levels of awareness, understanding and funding for men’s health issues, like prostate cancer, lag significantly behind other causes.

Movember aims to change the face of men’s health and reverse this way of thinking by putting a fun twist on this serious issue. Using the moustache as a catalyst, we want to bring about change and give men the opportunity and confidence to talk about their health more openly.

Movember's primary objective is to raise awareness and funds for all men's health issues, but most specifically prostate cancer and men's mental health. We want everyone to know that prostate cancer is highly curable if caught in its early stages, so Movember aims to increase early detection, diagnosis and effective treatment. This will ultimately reduce the number of deaths from cancer.  Mental health issues impact men across all age groups, socioeconomic sectors, geographies and ethnicities. There is a significant need to address awareness, risk assessment, access to care, treatments and the impact on surrounding family, friends and society.
 

• The average life expectancy for men is four to five years less than women.
• 1 in 4 Canadians are expected to die from cancer.
• 1 in 7 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime.
• In 2013, 26,500 new cases of prostate cancer will be diagnosed in men and 4,000 will lose their battle.
• 1 in 4 cancer patients experience clinical depression
• Testicular cancer is the most common cancer in Canadian men between the ages of 15 and 29.
• Tobacco is the single most preventable cause of cancer in Canada, responsible for over 37,000 death annually.
• 1 in every 11 men will develop lung cancer.
• While not as common, men can get breast cancer. About 200 new cases of breast cancer will be diagnosed among men and about 55 men will die from the disease.
• More than 75,000 cases of non-melanoma skin cancer are diagnosed each year in Canada.
• An estimated 6.6% of the population over the age of 20 has diabetes in Canada.
• Approximately 6 million Canadian adults have high blood pressure, representing 19% of the adult population; 17% are unaware of their condition. Even 30 year olds can have high blood pressure!
• 1 in 5 of Canadians will personally experience a mental illness each year
• Four times as many men commit suicide compared with women

The reasons for the poor state of men’s health in the Canada and around the world are numerous and complex and this is primarily due to a lack of awareness of the health issues men face. This can largely be attributed to the reluctance of men to openly discussing the subject due to longstanding traditions, coupled with an ‘it’ll be alright’ attitude. Men are less likely to schedule doctor appointments for an annual physical, unless they feel ill, thereby denying themselves the chance of early detection and effective treatment of common diseases. They are less likely to learn about their health risks and family history of illness.

Studies show that many men don’t get regular health checks for the following reasons:

• Fear it will lead to a hospital visit
• Embarrassed to discuss their health issues
• Find it too hard to see a doctor because they just can’t fit it into their schedule
• Just can’t be bothered making an appointment

Statistics show that, on average, men die at a younger age than women – the average life expectancy for men is four to five years less than women because men are dying at earlier ages. That said, despite trailing the women’s health movement, things are beginning to change, but much more progress needs to be made to close the gap between the state of men and women’s health and to complete the total picture of family health.  Established taboos and barriers relating to men’s health are gradually being broken down.





It’s not all bad news! Maintaining healthy lifestyle choices, a good diet and getting regular medical check-ups and screening tests can dramatically influence your health. Regardless of age, keep your health in check by doing the following:

HAVE AN ANNUAL PHYSICAL Find a doctor and make a yearly appointment for a general health check.  Getting annual checkups, preventative screening tests and immunizations are among the most important things you can do to stay healthy. KNOW YOUR FAMILY HEALTH HISTORY Family history is one of the most powerful tools to understanding your health. Family history affects your level of risk for cancer, diabetes, depression, heart disease and stroke, among other illnesses. It all starts with a conversation, talk to your family and take note of illnesses that a direct relative has experienced. Be sure to learn about relatives that are deceased as well.   DON’T SMOKE! If you do smoke, stop! Compared to non-smokers, men who smoke are about 23 times more likely to develop lung cancer.  Smoking causes about 85% of lung cancer deaths and doubles your risk of heart disease, bladder cancer and sexual problems. BE PHYSICALLY ACTIVE If you are not already doing some form of exercise, start small and work up to a minimum of 30 minutes of moderate physical activity most days of the week. Stay on the move throughout the day; long periods of sitting increases your risk for disease. Every little bit counts – take the stairs instead of the elevator or take a walk during your lunch break. EAT A HEALTHY DIET Fill up with fruits, vegetables, whole grains and choose healthy proteins like lean meats, poultry, fish, beans and nuts. Eat foods low in saturated fats, trans fats, cholesterol, salt and added sugars. Moderation is key, as is eating a wide range of foods to ensure you get a variety of nutrients. The best source of vitamins is from food. MANAGE YOUR STRESS Stress, particularly long-term stress, can be the factor in the onset or worsening of ill health. Managing your stress is essential to your health & well-being. Take ‘time out’ each day and go for a walk or do something you find relaxing.

STAY AT A HEALTHY WEIGHT Balance calories from foods and beverages with calories you burn off by physical activities. 59% of adult Canadians are either overweight or obese. Obesity and being overweight pose a major risk for chronic diseases, including type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, hypertension, low testosterone, stroke and certain cancers. DRINK ALCOHOL ONLY IN MODERATION Alcohol can be part of a healthy balanced diet, but only if consumed in moderation. This means no more than two drinks a day for men, and one drink a day for women (a standard drink is one 12-ounce bottle of beer or wine cooler, one 5-ounce glass of wine, or 1.5 ounces of 80-proof distilled spirits). SLEEP WELL The quality of your sleep can dictate how much you eat, how fast your metabolism runs, how fat or thin you are, how well you can fight off infections, and how well you can cope with stress. Keep a regular pattern of sleep, going to bed and waking up at roughly the same time is key. KEEP IT REGULAR As best you can, try to keep a schedule and eat, sleep and exercise at the same time each day. KNOW YOUR BODY You should record every sign and symptom you experience and discuss this with your doctor. KEEP UP YOUR IMMUNIZATIONS Check with your doctor regarding recommended immunization schedules, including tetanus, flu shots and shingles (over age 65) among others.

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    Download the men's health poster here,
    or visit the Merchandise section to order
    a free men's health pack.