Men’s Health

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MHF is a charity that provides an independent and authoritative voice for male health in England and Wales and tackles the issues and inequalities affecting the health and well-being of men and boys.

MHF’s vision is a future in which all boys and men in England and Wales have an equal opportunity to attain the highest possible level of health and well-being.

They work to achieve this through:
• Policy development, research and lobbying
• Supporting other organisations and services to engage more effectively with boys and men on health issues
• Leading the annual National Men’s Health Week
• Publishing the award-winning range of mini manual health booklets for men
• Running the unique ‘consumer’ website for men – www.malehealth.co.uk
• Working with MPs and government
• Developing innovative and imaginative best practice projects
• Training service providers and others
• Collaborating with the widest possible range of interested organisations and individuals.

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Testicular cancer

Testicular cancer accounts for approximately 0.7% of all cancers. It’s the most common cancer in men between the age of 20 and 35. Approximately 1,960 men are diagnosed with the condition each year in the UK. Around 70 people die every year from testicular cancer.

Cancers found early are the easiest to treat.  The best way to check for testicular cancer is to examine yourself once a month after a warm bath or shower, when the scrotal skin is relaxed.  Hold your scrotum in the palms of your hands, so that you can use the fingers and thumb on both hands to examine your testicles.

Gently feel each testicle individually.  Any noticeable increase in size or weight many mean something is wrong.  You should feel a soft tube at the top and back of the testicle, which is normal.   The testicle itself should be smooth with no lumps or swellings.  If you do find a swelling in your testicle, make an appointment and have it checked by your GP as soon as possible.

For more information on testicular cancer please visit the Macmillan Cancer Support website.

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Prostate cancer

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men. It is responsible for 25% of newly diagnosed cases of cancer in England and Wales.

The chances of developing prostate cancer increase as you get older. Most cases develop in men aged 65 or older.

For reasons that are not understood, prostate cancer is more common in men who are of Afro-Caribbean or African descent and less common in men of Asian descent.

The causes of prostate cancer are largely unknown. Please click here for more information.

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Sports injuries

Sport and exercise can sometimes cause injuries. Sports injuries can happen as a result of:

  • not warming up properly before exercising more vigorously,
  • pushing too hard for your current level of fitness, or
  • using inadequate equipment.

To reduce the risk of being injured while exercising, ask a qualified health professional or sports coach for training and safety advice.

Please click here for more information.

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Stress

Stress is the feeling of being under pressure. A little bit of pressure can:

  • increase productivity
  • be motivating
  • improve performance 

However, too much pressure or prolonged pressure can lead to stress, which is unhealthy for the mind and body. It can cause symptoms such as:

  • difficulty sleeping
  • sweating
  • lack of appetite
  • difficulty concentrating

For more information please click here.

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Coronary heart disease

Coronary heart disease is the term that describes what happens when your heart’s blood supply is blocked or interrupted by a build-up of fatty substances in the coronary arteries.

Over time, the walls of your arteries can become furred up with fatty deposits. This process is known as atherosclerosis and the fatty deposits are called atheroma. If your coronary arteries become narrow due to a build-up of atheroma, the blood supply to your heart will be restricted. This can cause angina (chest pains).

If a coronary artery becomes completely blocked, it can cause a heart attack. The medical term for a heart attack is myocardial infarction.

For more information please click here.