TOP TEN MEN'S HEALTH MYTHS!!!!

[Daanyeer]

Source: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_a ... 859454.ece
March 6, 2009

Is Viagra the answer to erectile dysfunction? Do Well Man clinics make a difference? Men's health advice can be downright useless, says Dr Keith HopcroftDr Keith Hopcroft

1. Well Man clinics are a good idea

WHAT ARE THEY? These are clinics, run by GPs and private companies, that offer health once-overs for men, checking their hearts, weight and all the bits that women don’t have.

WHO SAYS THEY’RE A GOOD IDEA? Men’s health enthusiasts with too much time on their hands and private screening companies trying to drum up business.

HOW WRONG IS IT? Totally, and will remain so until the average unhealthy male has a lobotomy.

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GIVE ME THE FACTS The main problem is that Well Man Clinics attract only well men. So, those motivated enough to attend are precisely those who don’t need to; lardy, fag-toting, burger-chomping slobs remain welded to their sofas. Besides, a well-person “screen” will rarely tell the typical bloke anything useful. All of which probably explains why the evidence that these clinics do any good is thinner than the average fitness freak.

WHAT SHOULD YOU DO? Forget regular health MoTs. The only relevant routine checks for blokes middle-aged and above are cholesterol and blood pressure tests; your pharmacist or GP will oblige. But only bother if you’d be inclined to act on the result, otherwise you’ll just fret and drive everyone barmy.

LAST WORD “I’ll go to the clinic when I’m well ill.”

2. Men don't use health services as much as women

WHO SAYS? Everyone; this myth is repeated so often you’d assume it’s gospel. Your other half will delight in using it as a stick with which to beat you all the way to your GP’s door.

HOW WRONG IS IT? It’s a distortion of the truth.

GIVE ME THE FACTS Women do use health services more than men, but that’s because they have more reason to. As a bloke, you’d get funny looks if you booked for a smear, ante-natal check, Pill prescription and so on. True, you’re the proud owner of a prostate and pant-tackle that the girls don’t have. But these are easily trumped by lady’s problems involving breasts and gynaecology. Now do the maths: subtract from female health service use the strictly girlie stuff, then do the same for men. You’ll find that at least 60 per cent of the apparent male v female difference in doctor door-stepping vanishes.

WHAT SHOULD I DO? Don’t feel as though you’re neglecting the health service but use it when you really need to. And if she says you should have a health MoT, refer her to the forthcoming myth: “Blokes would be healthier if they visited the doctor more often”.


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[eyes-only]

Why does it sound like it was written by a grumpy old man?