Men’s Health Week

Men’s Health Week takes place from 10th to 16th June this year and its focus is ‘men’s health by numbers’.

How many times has Chelsea won the premier league? What is the top speed of a Super Sport Bugatti Veyron? A barrel can hold how many litres of beer? Men are supposedly obsessed with numbers like these, but when it comes to health – just how many numbers come to mind?

The Men’s Health Forum

The Men’s Health Forum is a charity based in the UK. Founded in 1994, its mission is to improve the health of men and boys in England, Wales and Scotland – including via Men’s Health Week. In 2019, the Forum are asking men to consider 7 numbers:

1. 37 – Being overweight increases the risk of heart disease, diabetes and cancer. You are at higher risk if your waist size is more than 37 inches (94 cm) and at very high risk if it is over 40 inches (102cm).
2. 150 – Being more active will reduce your risk of heart disease, cancer and other health conditions. Men (and women) should aim for 150 minutes of moderate physical activity a week – whether that’s walking, running, gardening, going to the gym or similar.
3. 5 – Eating more fruit and vegetables protects you against obesity and diseases like cancer and diabetes. Cutting down on sugar can help too. Men (and women) should eat 5 portions of fruit and vegetables per day.
4. 14 – You should aim to drink no more than14 units of alcohol per week. Drinking too much increases the risk of obesity, heart disease, cancer and mental health problems.
5. 10 – Cigarette smokers die 10 years younger, on average, than non-smokers. Try to stub it out!
6. 120/80 – High Blood Pressure increases the risk of heart disease and other conditions. If your pressure is regularly higher than 120/80, talk to your GP – especially if it’s over 140/90. You can check your blood pressure in most pharmacies and doctor’s waiting rooms.
7. 75 – Suicide is the single biggest killer of men aged under 45 in the UK. 75% of all UK suicides are male – that’s 3 out of 4. It’s a shocking statistic, but it doesn’t have to be. Be sure to TALK to people around you. To be a man of less anxiety, become a man of more words.

In summary, one man in five dies before he is old enough to retire. Together, by knowing our numbers, we can all help to change this statistic.

Martin Tod, Chief Executive of the Men’s Health Forum, says: “For Men’s Health Week 2019, the Men’s Health Forum has pulled out the key numbers. We have seven numbers we want all men to know. At the Men’s Health Forum, men of all ages, policymakers and service-providers alike all ask what they can do to improve men’s health. Knowing a few simple numbers can make all the difference. To take it further, our new interactive manual ‘Man MOT- DIY checks and challenges’ helps men put those numbers to work monitoring their own health and living healthier lives.”

The Men’s Health Forum’s interactive manual enables men to check their health statistics and challenge themselves to do better! There are 25 health challenges in total.

Imperial Pharmacy

Whether you need to check your blood pressure, seek help with stubbing out those cigarettes or get professional advice about how to be healthier, Imperial Pharmacy in The Pantiles can provide plenty of products, services and knowledge during Men’s Health Week and beyond.

And – in case you’re wondering – Chelsea has won the premier league 6 times, the Super Sport version of the Bugatti Veyron has a top speed of 431.072 km/h (267.856 mph) and a barrel can hold 159 litres of beer. *

#menshealthweek #menshealthbynumbers

* as of 11/06/19.