By Gary Hammersley from South Worcestershire Clinical Commissioning Group

LOOKING after your health and wellbeing is important for everyone, from eating healthily and getting enough exercise to making sure that you’re taking care of your mental wellbeing.

But as statistics show it’s especially important for men, as they are far more likely to lead an unhealthy lifestyle. More than 100,000 men each year die prematurely, with one in five men dying before they are 65.

This week is Men’s Health Week (June 15 – 21) - a week which aims to highlight to men all over the country the importance of looking after their wellbeing and not being afraid to talk to somebody if they’re worried about their health.

This year the week focuses on healthy living and challenges men to:

• Not smoke – The percentage of men smoking has dropped in recent years and the percentage of people smoking in Worcestershire is lower than the national average. But more still needs to be done as smoking remains the biggest risk factor to men’s health, contributing to a number of cancers and heart disease

• Drink sensibly – Around 14 per cent of men have reported drinking an alcoholic drink on five or more days a week. Alcohol contributed to around 5 per cent of deaths in the local area through conditions such as stomach cancer, liver damage and stroke

• Be active – Only 67 per cent of men have reported that they met the Government recommendations for physical activity. Participation in physical activity declines with age with 83 per cent of men meeting guidelines between the ages of 16 and 24, compared to 57 per cent aged between 65 and 74. Physical inactivity led to approximately 7 per cent of male deaths, through people suffering a stroke, heart disease or diabetes

• Watch their weight – A majority of men are now overweight or obese and men are highly likely to eat unhealthily, consuming too little fruit and vegetables and eating too much salt, red meat and processed meat. It is estimated that obesity led to 11 per cent of deaths, through heart disease, stroke and complications with diabetes

• Look after their relationships and wellbeing – Men are also been encouraged not only to look after their physical wellbeing but also things that contribute to their mental wellbeing.

In the West Midlands the main cause of death amongst men is heart or circulatory disorders, which includes heart disease and stroke, with cancer next on the list.

This highlights how important the above lifestyle choices are to a person’s overall health and wellbeing and neglecting these can lead to an increased risk of developing such serious conditions.

There’s plenty of support available in Worcestershire, in terms of face-to-face support as well as information, hints and tips available on various health websites to help any men looking to improve their health and wellbeing.

Quitting smoking is the single most important thing a person can do for their current and future health. To find out more about how to quit and the benefits of stopping smoking visit: www.nhs.uk/livewell/smoking/Pages/stopsmokingnewhome.aspx

People are four times more likely to quit with the help of their local NHS Stop Smoking Service. The service can help choose nicotine replacement therapy or other treatments (Champix and Zyban), and these are available on a voucher – usual prescription fees apply.

To find the nearest NHS Stop Smoking Service in Worcestershire, visit the Your Life Your Choice website: ylyc.worcestershire.gov.uk/information-and-advice/health-and-wellbeing/stop-smoking/

The NHS Health Check offers the chance to get a free midlife MOT. For adults in England aged 40-74 without a pre-existing condition, it checks a person’s circulatory and vascular health and what their risk of getting a disabling vascular disease is.

To find out what happens at the check, when and how you get one, and how to lower your risk visit: www.nhs.uk/Conditions/nhs-health-check/Pages/NHS-Health-Check.aspx

The health check is available to anyone in the 40 to 74 age group without a pre-existing condition. They can expect to receive a letter from their GP inviting them for a free NHS Health Check.

Don't worry if you haven't got your invitation yet, as you will be invited for one over the next few years. If you haven't had a NHS Health check in the last five years you can search for a local service provider on this webpage: www.nhs.uk/Conditions/nhs-health-check/Pages/NHS-Health-Check.aspx

For anybody worried about their mental wellbeing, such as dealing with depression, stress or anxiety, the Worcestershire Health and Care NHS Trust have a number of services available to help and support people. A list of services and helpful links and documents can be found on their website: www.hacw.nhs.uk.

The trust has also recently launched a new course that provides an alternative way of dealing with depression and stress. Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) can be as effective at combatting depression as anti-depressants, with scientists claiming it could provide an alternative for millions of people.

The course is eight weeks long and combines meditation and cognitive behaviour therapy as well as discussion about the nature of depression and how to develop new ways of working through problems.

The sessions also aim to help people develop a better understanding of their own thought patterns and equip them to be able to recognise how these effect mood and physical well-being. For more information on the MBCT courses, please call 01905 760118.

Dr Carl Ellson, Chief Clinical Officer for NHS South Worcestershire Clinical Commissioning Group, said: “If anyone reading this is worried about anything that’s affecting their health and wellbeing it’s important that they’re not afraid to talk to someone.

“Men tend to be less health self-aware and are half as likely as women to visit their GP if they have any health problems. So it’s important that weeks like this raise awareness among men and make sure that they feel comfortable tackling any issues or worries that they might have about their wellbeing.”

Find out more about Men’s Health Week at www.menshealthforum.org.uk.