Male life expectancy in Ireland has risen consistently over the last sixty years, and in 2023 the average was 81.3 years. However, this is still lower than life expectancy for women and we must continue to ask and answer public health questions about how we can improve outcomes for men. There are socio-economic factors to consider, as well as a recognised mental health crisis amongst men, and these elements are part of the overall picture of men’s health in Ireland.
Regular health screening can help you to understand and manage your health, and this is a proactive way to look after yourself. Here at Roxboro Medical Centre, we offer men’s screening and Well Man’s checks for all male patients over the age of 18, and we are committed to supporting you in maintaining good health throughout your life.
Men’s Health Concerns
Men are more prone to several serious health concerns than women, including cardiovascular diseases and liver, bladder and pancreatic cancers. Conditions that primarily affect men include prostate cancer and testicular cancer, and men are much more likely to have Parkinson’s Disease, abdominal aortic aneurysms and Type 2 diabetes. Men also have higher rates of suicide, lung cancer and alcohol related disorders.
Men tend to develop heart disease around ten years earlier than women and have a higher prevalence of alcohol and obesity-related disorders, and this is a clear indication that lifelong health care and awareness for men is crucial. Preventative health care is better than cure, and a Well Man’s check and health screenings can help to improve long term outcomes and empower men to take greater care of their own health.
What is a Well Man’s Check?
A Well Man’s Check is a screening package that has been carefully designed to assess your general health and wellbeing with relation to your age and any specific symptoms you may have. You will begin by filling out a questionnaire about your health history, and you will have a complete physical examination that includes:
- Height
- Weight
- BMI (Body Mass Index)
- Waist circumference
- Blood pressure
- Heart rate/pulse
- Cardiovascular examination
- Respiratory examination
- Neurological examination
- Abdominal examination
- Testicular examination (if applicable)
- Prostate examination (if applicable)
You will also have blood tests and investigations to check the following:
- Full blood count
- Kidney function
- Liver function
- Thyroid function
- Fasting blood sugar and HBA1C (to check for diabetes)
- Cholesterol and lipids
- Iron profiles
- Prostate-specific antigen
- Urinalysis
- Electrocardiogram
Your Well Man’s Check will usually involve an initial double appointment, which will include a visit to the nurse, and a follow-up appointment a week later to discuss any relevant findings.
Low Testosterone
Did you know that low testosterone can affect men of all ages, and can cause a wide range of symptoms including reduced libido, erectile dysfunction, infertility, fatigue, reduced facial and body hair, increased body fat and mood changes? Proper testing of testosterone levels and erectile dysfunction can be life changing, as they can identify problems and enable the correct treatment to promote better health and wellbeing.
Regular health screenings are very important to maintain and monitor sexual health, and screenings for STIs (sexually transmitted infections) are also essential. This is critical for personal health and also for the health of your sexual partner or partners. Ensuring that you seek help with any concerns around your sexual health and wellbeing can help you to access the correct treatments and set your mind at ease.
Lifestyle Factors
The way you manage your health has a huge impact on your physical and mental wellbeing and learning more about your health and about potential risks to it can give you a good place to start. A Well Man’s check or a consultation with an experienced doctor can help you to establish a baseline for your health and to monitor the changes you experience, and this can help you to find solutions that work for you.
A good diet and regular exercise are vital in order to take care of your health, and there are many lifestyle changes you can make to improve your long-term health outcomes. If you smoke, getting support to stop will be the single most effective thing you can do for your health, and swapping to low alcohol drinks or reducing your intake of processed foods will make a huge difference to the way you look and feel.
Your exercise regime may need alterations as you age, and you may find that your strength and stamina changes. However, maintaining an active lifestyle is one of the biggest factors in general health and longevity, and can help to protect against heart disease and diabetes, as well as many other health conditions. If you have never exercised before, you should check with a medical professional before introducing this into your lifestyle, and it is always a good idea to start gently, perhaps with daily walks that can increase in speed, distance and intensity as your health improves.
Men’s Mental Health
Many men experience mental health issues throughout their lives, and they are less likely to seek support for these than women experiencing similar symptoms. Mental health is a significant area of concern and mental health screenings can help to identify issues such as depression, anxiety and stress, which can affect quality of life and wellbeing. Mental health support can help men to understand these conditions and seek the appropriate treatment, which may include talk therapy, somatic therapies, medication and/or lifestyle changes.
The stigma around mental health is changing, with young people more aware of the pressures they are under than ever before, but the statistics still show that men are less likely to reach out for support and more likely to die from suicide. Ensuring that men’s mental health is more openly discussed in the future is a goal for many organisations and charities that work in this area, and including mental health awareness in our Well Man’s Checks is an important part of this process.
Early Detection of Health Risks
Detecting adverse symptoms and health risks at an early stage can make a huge difference to long and short term outcomes and can even be lifesaving. This can be even more important in men’s health, because men often tend to dismiss symptoms and put off visiting the doctor. Regular health screenings can play a very important role in preventing serious conditions and identifying potential problems before they become significant.
Early intervention for serious conditions can ensure that you can access effective treatment and may prevent more severe outcomes, and regular health screenings can pick up anomalies and potential problems before you are even aware of them, in some cases. If you have specific symptoms that are concerning you, you should discuss these with your doctor or make an appointment for a consultation or Well Man’s Check.
Men’s Healthcare at Roxboro Medical Centre
At Roxboro Medical Centre, we have an experienced team of nurses and doctors in Limerick, and we offer healthcare for all the family, including Well Man’s Checks. We can help you with existing or new health conditions, travel healthcare and sexual health, and we offer discreet and professional services to support your health and well-being.
We provide patient focused care at our convenient location in Limerick City, and you can book an appointment from 9am-5pm Monday to Friday by calling us or by emailing our team. Contact us to discuss the options or book an initial consultation or Well Man’s Check with one of our experienced GPs.
Dr. O’Donoghue has a keen interest in Sports Medicine and has completed a Masters Degree in Sports and exercise medicine from University College Cork achieving an honours degree. He has also done additional training in Neurofunctional Acupuncture from McMaster University in Hamilton Canada. He has completed the FIFA Football Medicine Diploma and is a trained provider of the EMS Swiss Dolorclast method for ESWT (extracorporeal shockwave therapy).