Wealden Times | WT260 | January 2024 | Good Living Supplement inside
The lifestyle magazine for Kent & Sussex - Inspirational Interiors, Fabulous Fashion, Delicious Dishes
The lifestyle magazine for Kent & Sussex - Inspirational Interiors, Fabulous Fashion, Delicious Dishes
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ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE<br />
Ignorance isn’t bliss<br />
Encouraging men to be proactive about their health<br />
In 2021, a study conducted by<br />
Bupa revealed some stark truths<br />
about men’s attitudes to health.<br />
A quarter said they put off having<br />
a health issue checked, and 58%<br />
admitted ignoring the issue in the<br />
hope that it would simply go away.<br />
These stats are perhaps unsurprising<br />
to the many of us struggling to<br />
encourage the males in our life -<br />
whether that be a partner, father,<br />
son, brother or friend - to take<br />
their health more seriously. There<br />
is clearly still some way to go in<br />
influencing these attitudes, but<br />
encouraging the men in your life<br />
to book a GP appointment and<br />
attend reviews for their blood<br />
pressure, cholesterol, prostate<br />
examinations and colorectal cancer<br />
screenings is a positive step.<br />
Persuading men to be proactive<br />
about their health can also help<br />
prevent and spot the early signs<br />
of a range of conditions such as:<br />
Joint pain affecting<br />
the hip and knee<br />
If a friend or loved one is<br />
experiencing pain when<br />
performing everyday activities<br />
or you notice decreases in their<br />
range of motion, urge them to<br />
see their GP. They may need to<br />
seek treatment for osteoarthritis,<br />
a condition affecting one in three<br />
people over 45 in England. The<br />
National Institute for Health<br />
and Care Excellence advise that<br />
exercise and weight loss be the first<br />
line of treatment for joint pain.<br />
Alex Chipperfield, Consultant<br />
Orthopaedic Surgeon at Benenden<br />
Hospital, says: “I hear on a<br />
regular basis that people have<br />
been advised to rest painful<br />
joints as exercise can make<br />
things worse. This is a common<br />
misconception, and I spend a lot<br />
of time convincing people of the<br />
huge benefits that regular exercise<br />
can provide to arthritic joints.”<br />
Strong muscles and supple<br />
ligaments around a failing<br />
joint can help support it and<br />
alleviate some symptoms. Lowimpact<br />
exercises such as cycling,<br />
swimming and walking, as<br />
well as flexibility exercises such<br />
as yoga, can help maintain<br />
strength and mobility.<br />
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