Professor Peter Lavin, Consultant Nephrologist & Lead Clinical Director at Tallaght University Hospital at one of the information stands organised by the Health & Wellbeing Office for patients, visitors and staff for Men’s Health Week (Image: TUH)
Men encouraged to ‘know their numbers’
A PROFESSOR at Tallaght University Hospital has encouraged men to ‘know their numbers’ as Men’s Health Week is celebrated nationwide.
Running until this Sunday, June 16, Men’s Health Week seeks to increase awareness of the important things men need to know about their health.
The campaign, run by the HSE in partnership with Men’s Health Forum in Ireland, gives time and space for everyone to do their bit to improve the health of men and boys by increasing awareness of preventable health problems.
It also supports men and boys to engage in healthier lifestyle choices and activities alongside encouraging the early detection and treatment of health problems.
Professor Peter Lavin, Consultant Nephrologist and Lead Clinical Director at Tallaght University Hospital, is a supporter of the men’s health initiative.
In a comment to The Echo this week, Professor Lavin said: “Research clearly shows that men on the island of Ireland experience a disproportionate burden of ill-health and die too young.
“They die younger than women; have higher death rates for almost all of the leading causes of death and at all ages; have poorer lifestyles which are responsible for a high proportion of chronic diseases; present later to health services which can lead to a large number of problems becoming untreatable.
“However, this is not a lost cause. Much can be and is being done to improve this situation.”
Knowing the following numbers can make a real and lasting improvement in a man’s health.
Professor Lavin and the team at TUH has encouraged people to take a few minutes this week to become familiar with their numbers and make a lasting change to their health – for the better.
Food – eight out of 10 men in Ireland do not eat enough fruit & vegetables. The recommended daily amount is five to seven portions, and you should try to ‘eat the rainbow’ (eat a variety of colours whenever you can).
Physical activity – All adults should aim for at least 30-minutes a day of moderate physical activity five days a week. This time can be added up throughout the day in short spurts. 150 minutes of exercise a week will make a real difference to your health and mood.
Watch your head. The importance of this cannot be stressed enough, the mental health of men and boys in Ireland is often poor. We need to talk openly about mental health and make sure we ask for help if we need it.
Smoking is the leading cause of preventable death in Ireland, there are approximately 7,500 people dying each year from tobacco related diseases.
Smoking / vaping harms nearly every organ in the body and is a risk factor for developing many chronic diseases.
Alcohol – Drinking more than six standard drinks / eight units on any one occasion is classified as ‘binge drinking’ for men. According to a manual created for this year’s campaign, with alcohol the simple message is ‘less is more’.
The campaign says that you’ll have more healthy years of life, more money, and more time to do things if you cut back on the drink.
Blood pressure – 120/80 is the normal number for blood pressure. Raised blood pressure (hypertension) can contribute to a range of health issues including heart attacks and strokes.
It is sometimes referred to as the ‘silent killer’, because there are often few signs (or men ignore the signs) that something is wrong.
Cholesterol – Less than 5. One of the best ways to prevent strokes or heart attacks is to keep your cholesterol at a healthy level.
Cholesterol is a type of fat in your blood, LDL (bad) cholesterol can be harmful. It sticks to the inside of your arteries and makes it harder for blood to flow through them.
Sleep – essential for your mental and physical health. It helps to reset and recharge your brain and body. Adult men need between seven and nine hours sleep a night, boys (as they are growing) need more.
Weight – The amount of weight you carry around your middle can affect your hormones, immune system and increase your risk of high blood pressure, heart disease and diabetes.
For further tips, advice and events for Men’s Health Week follow Tallaght University Hospital on Facebook or visit the Men’s Health Forum in Ireland website.
