UPDATE - Issue 31 - Autumn 2007
Better Health for Men Seminar
Three of us from Prostate UK were invited to attend the Better Health for Men forum in October. The event was the brain child of our very own Professor Roger Kirby and his brother Mike, and generously sponsored by Pfizer Plc. The non-stop agenda from 0900 hours until 1830 hours was pretty daunting but made worthwhile because the subjects covered, such as sex and the heart (no, it wasn't funny), stomach cancer, having an overactive bladder, various facets of the prostate and erectile dysfunction, were addressed by eminently qualified speakers, all leaders in their specialist subjects.
As someone with limited medical exposure, I was fascinated to have confirmed to me the reality that diet and stress can seriously upset the apple cart in men's health. I learned that the vast majority of men genuinely don't give a fig about their health until it's, all too often, too little too late, with the medical profession denied the opportunity to deal with men's problems proactively, in preference to having to resort to reactive measures, which is the norm. I also learned that erectile dysfunction is remarkably common and that it is inextricably linked with cardiovascular disease; in other words all these various states of health have a knock on effect to, and are linked with, other parts of the body. Interestingly, there was some very strong debate on just how men are expected to present themselves at doctors' surgeries for what may be only a 10 minute consultation which, all too often by the time the doctor has been seen, effectively writes off a working day; result - men can't be bothered with the attendant hassle and simply don't go. The solution? Surgery opening hours should suit their male patients better, with late evening or, weekend opening. Just how to achieve that politically is, however, another matter.
In summary with only 40 or so in attendance, I felt privileged to have been invited and, perversely, rather than lectures dragging along I found myself quite spellbound with the whole day's events; but, gentlemen, the exam question that remains unanswered is will you go and see your doctor for that little niggling problem that you've put up with for so long or will you, again, put it off just that little bit longer?