A study of 2,000 men found 92% would urge a friend to visit the doctor – but almost half would delay seeking medical help for their own men’s health issues
A survey of 2,000 men revealed that most would urge a friend to visit their GP, with 40% having stepped in when a pal refused to seek help. Of those, 22% said they’ve had to intervene on more than one occasion. Yet 47% admitted to delaying an appointment themselves for exactly the same symptoms.
Just 14% seek help as soon as they notice something is wrong, with 40% typically waiting weeks before booking a GP appointment. More than half (52%) confessed they frequently wait until symptoms become impossible to ignore before seeking medical attention.
Worryingly, almost a quarter (23%) of those who delayed seeking help said their condition later turned out to be serious.
Reasons for postponing an appointment ranged from hoping the problem would resolve itself, to feeling it wasn’t severe enough to warrant a trip to the doctor. Others were put off by lengthy waiting times (21%) or claimed they were simply too busy (18%). Some also felt they needed to “tough it out” (18%).
The research was commissioned by health test provider Medichecks, which has teamed up with former footballer and broadcaster Chris Kamara to urge men to open up more about their health.
The brand has transformed the Trent Navigation Inn in Nottingham into its Well Man Arms Bar, welcoming men to watch football while weaving health discussions into their everyday conversations.
Chris Kamara said: “Football fans can spend hours debating who’s in the starting eleven, whether the manager got it right or who’s coming in during the transfer window. But when it comes to their own health, a lot of blokes go completely quiet.
“What struck me from the research is that nearly every man would tell a mate to get checked out if something didn’t seem right, but many won’t take their own advice.
“We’re brilliant at looking after our mates, but not always so good at looking after ourselves. I know from my own experience how easy it is to brush things off and think, ‘I’ll deal with it later’, the problem is, later can sometimes be too late.
“If we can get even a few men to stop putting things off, book an appointment, get a health check or simply talk to someone about something that’s worrying them, that’s a win in my book.”
The findings also showed that 73% of men believe outdated masculine stereotypes, such as the expectation to stay stoic and suffer in silence, are to blame for many feeling unable to seek the medical attention they need.
Yet attitudes appear to be shifting, with just 17% of those polled, via OnePoll, now admitting they wouldn’t open up to a friend, teammate or family member if something was troubling them.
And once they do make it to their GP, only 13% would feel uncomfortable discussing their concerns with a healthcare professional.
Dr Natasha Fernando, medical director at Medichecks, added: “One of the most striking findings from the research is the disconnect between how men look after others and how they look after themselves.
“The issue often isn’t a lack of awareness, it’s the tendency to put our own health at the bottom of the priority list. The reality is that many serious health conditions, including high cholesterol, high blood pressure and type 2 diabetes, can develop silently with few obvious symptoms.
“That’s why being proactive about your health matters so much, whether it’s booking a GP appointment, having a conversation with a healthcare professional or getting a health check.”
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