Men's Health Week 2022
Zdenek Rydl
This week is Men's Health Week. I know some of you are thinking, why is a woman talking about men's health. Well, 95% of my co-workers are male. So, as a Health and Safety Officer, I take this opportunity to encourage all men to take better care of their health, not dismiss or avoid their health concerns, and seek help or treatment at an early stage.
The theme of this year's men's health week is MISSION: isPossible, and the core aims are:
Heighten awareness of preventable health problems for males of all ages.
Support men & boys to engage in healthier lifestyle choices/activities.
Encourage early detection and treatment of health difficulties in males.
Research shows that men in Ireland experience a disproportionate burden of ill-health and die too young. Men have higher death rates for almost all of the leading causes of death at all ages. They have poorer lifestyles which are responsible for a high proportion of chronic diseases. Men present later to health services which can lead to many problems becoming untreatable, etc.
So what can you do this week:
Go online and become more informed about men's health issues - www.mhfi.org
Talk to your male colleagues and relations to encourage them to look after themselves and inform them about available support.
Bring a really healthy lunch to work one or two days.
Try and cut down on your cigarettes/alcohol/sugar consumption.
Walk or cycle at least part of your journey to and from work if you can.
Get outside in the evening, take a walk, kick a football, go for a swim, get out, enjoy the summer evenings, and increase your activity levels – be more than a sports spectator.
Post and Tweet about men's health.
If you've been putting off seeing your doctor, make that appointment this week.
And for all women reading this, maybe you too can help raise awareness of the importance of Men's health to those men in your life.
Niamh, Senior Health & Safety Officer