How some health conditions affect men more than women

According to the British Heart Foundation, there are 1.5 million men living with coronary heart disease (CHD), compared to 850,000 women. More men die of it too.

But lifestyle changes can reduce your risk. These include losing weight if you’re carrying too many kilos, giving up smoking and taking regular exercise. Check blood pressure and cholesterol regularly.

Prostate cancer has overtaken breast cancer as the number one cancer in the UK. This is partly because more men are getting tested, so if you’re over 50 and have difficulty urinating, go more frequently or feel as if your bladder isn’t empty, see your GP.

Be aware of risk factors—a family history and being black increase your likelihood of developing prostate cancer. Reduce your risk by eating well, being active and maintaining a healthy weight.

Males are more likely to have diabetes than females. Being overweight is a factor in type 2 diabetes and men develop it at a lower weight than women. Symptoms include peeing more frequently, especially at night, feeling more thirsty or tired than normal, and having cuts and sores that are slow to heal.

But symptoms develop slowly, so keep your weight at a healthy level and take up invitations to NHS health check-ups every five years once you’re over 40. These include tests for diabetes.

Three out of four suicides in the UK are men. Feeling constantly worried, agitated, unhappy or hopeless, loss of appetite, difficulty sleeping or poor concentration, and losing interest in your personal appearance, hygiene or the things you once enjoyed can all be signs of depression.

Don’t suffer in silence; go to your GP. To improve wellbeing, surround yourself with friends, exercise and have a regular sleep pattern.

Men are more likely to drink and become dependent on alcohol than women. They might drink to blot out negative feelings, but alcohol is a depressant and can exacerbate poor mental health. Over time it can raise your blood pressure and cholesterol, your risk of heart attacks, stroke and cancer, and lead to liver problems, accidents and relationship breakdowns.

To cut down, socialise in a way that doesn’t require you to drink, like going to the cinema or the gym rather than the pub, or be the designated driver. Only drink with a meal.

Far more men than women die of malignant melanoma, even though similar numbers develop the disease. Why? Probably because they put off going to the doctor, so it’s diagnosed at a later stage. Men tend to get skin cancer on their back and chest, so ask your partner to check your back.

Cancer Research UK says 86 per cent of cases are preventable, so cover up (including bald pates), stay in the shade when possible and wear an SPF factor of 15 or more in the sun.

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