How healthy are you? It’s a hard question to answer, but with the help of a health survey targeting men, you can suss out your health state and start to take steps to up your stats.
Take the ‘What’s Your Score?’ men’s health survey and get your figures, is the first piece of advice from organisers of this year’s Men’s Health Week (MHW), which runs from 12-18 June. The awareness week, which is sponsored in Aotearoa by Registered Master Builders, aims to help men get right on top of their biggest and most important asset – their health.
“Worse, he is three times more likely to die by suicide or in a motor car crash. Sadly, eight Kiwi families every day lose a loved partner, father or tupuna to a PREVENTABLE illness - one they didn’t need to die from.”
And statistics are worse for our male indigenous population. “Māori and Pasifika men live significantly shorter lives on average than other races in NZ.
“Almost one Kiwi man in four will die before they reach retirement age. One in four of us won’t live to retire! It doesn’t have to be this way.”
For one week in June each year, MHW gets to remind us all of the small things we or our loved ones should be doing, the health checks and routines we can control to give us all a better shot at a longer, healthier life.
“Our sole purpose at MHW is to get guys to think a little more and know a little more about their health. We want to encourage men to start with the small steps that can enable them to turn their health issues around. Little steps can – and will – make big differences. We just have to start.”
We can all do something to change these numbers by making small changes to the things we eat, drink and do. Even little changes can lead to large results. Organisers hope all Kiwi men take even one piece of action this June and suggest starting small. “Walk a little more, eat a little less…see and feel the changes that makes. Even small changes can help you enjoy life more and live longer. Who doesn’t want that?”
An introduction to vital health issues for guys and things to do to avoid some basic problems are available among the many resources on Men’s Health Week’s health information pages. Blokes can learn more through health quizzes, podcasts, downloading resource kits or following the links to more indepth expert findings, if they wish to delve deeper.
MHW organisers urge Kiwi men to get involved. “You can manage your health to live longer and better. We’ve just gotta take that first step, guys.”
Start on Men’s Health Week. Get your crew together, do the test, and make progress as a team. Your life – and the lives of your mates and colleagues - could depend on it.
