MOVEMBER, IS THERE A LASTING EFFECT?

It’s Movember month – and boy have they done a wonderfully amazing job of marketing moustaches, it is everywhere!

As a clinic dominated by women, we’re also supporting the cause and our male associates because by part we are supporting our dads, grandfathers, uncles, brothers, sons, husbands and friends.

So, what does Movember actually stand for?

It’s raising funds and awareness for prostate and testicular cancer, mental health and suicide prevention. Since 2003 when Movember consisted of 30 men and raised zero dollars, they have had 5,542,507 people participate (and counting) and have raised $938 million dollars.

In Australia last year 70.9 per cent of the funds were devoted to men’s health programs.

It will come as no surprise to some people that married men live longer than single men, my mother has looked after my father’s health better than he does and my sister’s and I are mirroring that behaviour. I am the one that makes my husband’s health appointments, I’m the one that reminds him to take vitamins and drink water.

During September which was Tradies National Health Month we ran an Osteopathic Assessment offer for tradie’s suffering aches and pains, and the majority of people who took up the offer were wives booking their husbands in.

I believe it’s the “she’ll be right” mentality of a high proportion of males, believing the niggle or concern will fix itself or go away, as this is the thoughts and actions of my husband and father.

Did you know that the risk of a man dying while riding a motorbike is less than a man being diagnosed with breast cancer?

This risk is one in 721, which may not seem high, but this rate is because it goes undiagnosed until the late stages, Movember is just one month what men need to realise it that their health needs attention all year round.

Osteopaths are primary health care practitioners, although when most people see us it is to help with a musculoskeletal complaint, we are trained to notice signs and symptoms of things more sinister.

So, if you think the niggle will ‘just go away’ rather than waiting, why not get it treated and any underlying issues ruled out too?

Dr Erin Coffey is an Osteopath at The Health Creation Centre in Ocean Grove.