Modern men ignore medical symptoms

Men in the UK are willing to take risks with their health despite being aware of the dangers - over three quarters (77%) of men have ignored medical symptoms of ill health in the past year, according to new research by Friends Provident.

Nearly half (44%) of men don't check themselves for cancerous signs such as lumps and moles. Men's knowledge may need topping up as over a third (34%) don't know how to check themselves for testicular cancer and only a quarter know how to check themselves for breast cancer and prostate cancer.

Nearly a third (30%) of men say that they are concerned about their health and don't look after themselves as much as they should, while 27% occasionally worry about their health but try to balance this with enjoying themselves.

Mark Jones, head of protection at Friends Provident, said: "This new research confirms some of the stereotypes surrounding men and how some of us don't look after our health. By ignoring symptoms and not visiting their doctor men could be leaving themselves vulnerable to future health problems. We are encouraging men to take more care of themselves by being aware of their health now to secure their long term health."

Almost half (47%) of men avoid acknowledging serious hereditary health problems or do not know if there are any serious health problems in their immediate family as they don't talk about them. However a fifth (22%) of men have revealed that if a friend or member of their family was ill due to neglecting their health it would make them take more notice of their own health.

The top five risks men take with their health are:

Lack of exercise (50%)
Being overweight (34%)
Drinking too much (27%)
Not eating enough fruit and vegetables (27%)
Eating too much junk food (27%)

Mark Jones continues: "A significant majority (61%) of men acknowledge that they take more risks with their health than women. Despite this men don't seem to be taking the relevant actions to improve their health and we are urging them to do so."

In order to keep healthy or improve their health men do the following:

Walk (37%)
Relax and take time out (36%)
Eat five portions of fruit and vegetables a day (28%)
Visit the doctors when they are feeling unwell (27%)
Go to the gym (20%)

While 10% feel they don't need to do anything to keep healthy or improve their health, over half (52%) of men have also ignored a letter urging them to attend a medical check up in the past year and in the same time frame only one third (32%) attended a regular check up or test.