A Movember men’s physical health checklist
Published: November 7, 2024
Movember is here! It’s a great time for men to focus on their overall health and wellbeing, and a reminder for their whānau to support them in living healthy lives.
Physical and mental health are linked, so it’s important to take care of both.
In Aotearoa, New Zealand, common and preventable causes of death for men include heart disease, strokes, and various cancers such as lung, bowel, testicular, and prostate cancer.
To all the men out there, our Clinical Director, Dr Cheryl Buhay, has some helpful tips for looking after your physical health.
It is important that you do this alongside your GP and other health professionals involved in your care.
Dr Cheryl Buhay’s Helpful Tips
Live a healthier lifestyle
- Make healthy food and drink choices (avoid sugary food and drinks).
- Exercise regularly.
- Maintain a healthy body weight. Even a small improvement in body weight can improve blood results.
- Cut down or stop smoking. For those who do not smoke — please do not start!
Self-check and keep an eye out for symptoms
Testicular cancer is among the most common cancers in young men aged 18 to 39 but is highly curable at a rate of 95% (Testicular Cancer New Zealand, n.d.) when detected early.
On average, 170 men are diagnosed with testicular cancer every year in Aotearoa, New Zealand (Testicular Cancer New Zealand, n.d.).
It’s important to know what’s normal for your body so that if you notice any changes or something feels off, you can act quickly and see your doctor.
Changes to look out for include:
- swelling
- a lump
- changes in size, shape, or consistency.
Prostate cancer is the second most common cancer among kiwi men, with around 4,000 new cases (Te Aho o Te Kahu, n.d.) diagnosed each year. It is also the most prevalent cancer affecting older men in Aotearoa, New Zealand.
Prostate cancer develops gradually and often shows no symptoms, particularly in the early stages, but it can sometimes be linked to changes in urination (peeing).
If you’re older or have a family history of prostate cancer, it’s important to discuss screening options, such as a rectal exam or PSA blood test, with your doctor.
Encourage a review by your GP
Talk to your GP about having a comprehensive physical health check and arranging tests to screen for heart disease risk factors and overall heart and metabolic health.
This is especially important for those with mental health challenges and heart health risk factors.
Risk factors for the heart include:
- being overweight
- smoking
- high blood pressure
- diabetes
- family history of heart attack or stroke.
Your GP can also help arrange cancer screenings, prescribe medications, and provide other support and monitoring if needed.
Look up reliable, up-to-date information to discuss with your healthcare provider
Visit Healthify and search for topics like ‘heart disease’, ‘prostate cancer’ or ‘testicular cancer’.
For more information on testicular and prostate cancers, visit Testicular Cancer NZ and the Prostate Cancer Foundation.
If you’re low on data or have no data — not to worry. You can visit www.zero.govt.nz and search for ‘Healthify‘.
References
Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora. (2023). Aotearoa New Zealand health status report 2023.
Te Aho o Te Kahu. (n.d.). Prostate cancer rate.
Te Aho o Te Kahu. (n.d.). Testicular cancer.
Testicular Cancer New Zealand. (n.d.). About testicular cancer.
