One man in five dies before he is old enough to retire

Published: 10 June 2019

This week (10th – 16th June) is Men’s Health Week. This is a time to bring awareness to health issues that affect men disproportionately and focuses on getting men to become aware of problems they may have or could develop, and gain the courage to do something about it.

This year, we’re looking at the key numbers that men need to know about their own health.

One man in five dies before he is old enough to retire. Together, by knowing our numbers, we can change this statistic. 

So here’s what you need to know:

Aim to eat 5 portions of fruit or vegetables each day.

In 2017/18 only 50.2% of male residents in Derby ate 5 portions of fruit or veg each day. Enjoying a healthy diet can give us a life-enhancing edge, both in the short and long term.

Cigarette smokers on average die 10 years younger than non-smokers.

In Derby, 20.5% of men smoke. No part of your body is unaffected by smoking and one in two smokers will be killed by their habit: stopping smoking immediately reduces your risk of death caused by lung cancer and bronchitis. Derby City Council’s Livewell service offers support with smoking cessation.

Consume a maximum of 14 units of alcohol each week.

28% of men in the UK reported they drank at an increased or higher risk of harm in 2011-2017. In the long-term, excessive drinking damages your body’s organs. One You provides tips on how to cut back on drinking.

A waist size of 37 inches or above puts you at an increased risk of heart disease, diabetes and cancer.

You can use the British Heart Foundation Calculator to find out if our waist size is putting you at risk. Livewell offer several weight-loss programmes and services to help you remain healthy.

75% of those who die by suicide, are men.

In 2015, there were 19 deaths from suicide and undetermined injury in Derby, 89.5% of those deaths were in men. The NHS’s One You service provides advice and guidance around mental health and offers a personal action plan tool designed to help individuals manage their thoughts, feelings and experiences.

120/80 – is normal blood pressure.

In 2015, the prevalence of high blood pressure for men in England was 31%. More than 1 in 4 adults in the UK have high blood pressure, although many will not realise it. The only way to find out if your blood pressure is high is to have your blood pressure checked.  Livewell offers free NHS Health Checks for 40 to 74 year olds to find out their blood pressure, cholesterol, BMI, heart age and other measurements.

Men should aim to do 150 minutes of moderate physical activity each week.

In 2016/17, 1 in 5 men in Derby did less than 30 minutes of physical activity a week, so were classified as inactive. Derby City Council’s Livewell service works alongside Derby County Community Trust and One You, offering a range of programmes that help with becoming more active.

If you are worried about your health, the NHS offers a range of services that provide help and support: this information is also accessible via the NHS App.

If you would like to improve your wellbeing and need support to do so, Livewell, Derby County Community Trust and One You provide guidance and various programmes that can help.

You can also download this ‘do-it-yourself’ MOT guide, with health checks and challenges for men of all ages.

Community, Health