There are some alarming statistics regarding men’s health. More than 40% of Australian men over 40 suffer a serious health problem. Men under 75 years of age are almost three times more likely to die from heart disease, stroke or blood vessel disease than women in the same age group; and in men alcohol misuse results in about 3,000 deaths and 65,000 hospitalisations every year.

This year the theme of IMHW in Australia is Kick a Goal for Men’s Health – especially appropriate at the time of the Football World Cup.

Associate Professor Gary Wittert from the University of Adelaide’s Department of Medicine, writing in the Men’s Health Australia website, tells us: “Compared with women, Australian men of all ages are less healthy and, therefore, do not enjoy as good a quality of life as they should. All chronic conditions such as obesity, cancer, diabetes and cardiovascular disease occur more frequently in men and their life expectancy is five years less than that of women.”

The Australian male mortality rate (the number of deaths from all causes) is almost one and half times the female mortality rate. Overall for every two women who die, three men die. More men die at every age group than women, except for the over-65 age group.

According to Professor Wittert, it’s important that we identify the reasons for men’s poorer physical and mental health. Measures could then be developed and implemented to promote a healthy and active lifestyle and eventually prevent diseases.

It probably comes as no surprise to learn that men generally indulge in more risky behaviour than do women; and this behaviour pattern has been the case for many centuries.

Perhaps this is one reason why men don’t last quite as long as women. Compared with women, men are much more likely to die in accidents – traffic or work-related accidents – and be the victims of homicide or suicide. But the fact that some men occasionally behave quite badly is not the only reason that in Australia women live longer than men. This five year gap is quite common in other parts of the world as well; but the reason differs from country to country.

So, when young Australian men survive their aggressive adolescence, they are still more likely to indulge in dangerous lifestyle pursuits – smoking, eating and drinking to excess and exercising too little.

It’s fair to say that women appear to have biological advantage over men; women seem to have a stronger immune system; and the hormone oestrogen protects against heart disease and stroke – at least until after the menopause.

However, men are less inclined to visit the doctor, whether that be when they are ill, or just to have a regular check-up. They’re very much aware of the need for motor vehicle or other machinery maintenance, but ignore the need to protect their bodies from abuse, misuse or age-related deterioration.

In preparing to kick those men’s health goals and closing that five year gap, all men, and women who care about them, could check out the series of men’s health fact cards. They’re available from all pharmacies around Australia providing the Self Care health information. Call the Pharmaceutical Society (PSA) on 1 300 369 772 or log on to the PSA website at www.psa.org.au for the nearest location.

©2010 Pharmaceutical Society of Australia

PTSD is a serious psychological reaction that some people develop after an overwhelmingly frightening or traumatic experience, especially an experience that threatens life or safety.

Most people who experience a traumatic event will have emotional and psychological reactions (e.g. fear, sadness, guilt, anger) that reduce with time. However, some people develop the longer lasting condition of PTSD.

Official recognition was given to the condition in 1980 following the Vietnam War. While the majority of cases of PTSD are indeed war related – war veterans, peace-keeping forces and refugees are all at high risk – it is now realised that trauma other than war can cause PTSD.

People at risk of suffering PTSD include victims of natural disasters, (for instance, flood, fire, famine and earthquake), serious motor vehicle accidents and crimes such as rape, assault, armed hold-up and kidnap. The terrorist attacks in New York, Bali, Madrid and London and now Pakistan are events that will have left the family and friends of victims severely traumatised. Also at high risk are emergency services personnel, including police, fire-fighters and health workers, such as those involved in rescue operations.

In the context of recent local events, people who have suffered as a result of the fires in Victoria and the floods in Queensland are very much at risk of PTSD.

In an effort to increase awareness of PTSD and to explain where to get the best help and advice, the Commonwealth Department of Veterans Affairs, together with the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia, have produced an information card which is now available from pharmacies providing Pharmacy Self Care health information.

Having feelings of stress and anxiety after a traumatic event is quite normal, and most people will recover from even intense traumatic stress within a few months. However, it seems some people are more likely to suffer severely, with long term consequences.

Symptoms may occur immediately after the event, or may be delayed for months or years. Also, symptoms may vary greatly from person to person. These symptoms might include, depression and/or anxiety, difficulty sleeping – often due to distressing dreams – flashbacks of the event, rage and anger, avoidance of thoughts or conversations about the event and feelings of guilt or shame.

Some people drink alcohol heavily when under stress. Alcohol will not help PTSD and may make it worse. It is important to know that alcohol will impair driving and the ability to work, may make you feel depressed and may increase side effects of PTSD medicines. It will also increase sedation from anti-anxiety medicines.

If you or someone in your family is suffering with PTSD it is important to seek help. Your local doctor can advise you. Following a traumatic event, immediate counselling may be helpful; but remember, no matter how long ago the event occurred, treatment can still be effective.

Management of PTSD often involves a number of different strategies including: education about the condition; counselling, support from other PTSD sufferers and family members; treatment programs (e.g. anger management) and reducing reliance on alcohol or inappropriate medicines if this is a problem.

There are several self care strategies that will help as well. Try to cut down on cigarettes and alcohol – these can make stress worse. Exercise regularly and use relaxation techniques and accept the support of your friends and family; studies show this helps recovery.

For more information about PTSD, ask at your local PSA Self Care Pharmacy for a copy of the fact card. For the nearest location call 1 300 369 772 or check out the Pharmaceutical Society’s website at www.psa.org.au

©2009 Pharmaceutical Society of Australia

Locally, the A League Soccer has just begun again, but for the other football codes, it’s finals time; and for every winner there’ll be thousands of disappointed fans.

Even if you supported the top team, there will often be an emotional let down after the event. Nothing unusual about that; these feelings are quite normal. We all have these emotional highs and lows – times of elation and times of disappointment.

It’s also normal to feel anxious now and again. We’ve all had that experience of butterflies in our stomach maybe before an exam or a job interview. Anxiety is actually a normal and reasonable response to danger or stress; it’s an emotion that triggers our body’s nervous system to be able to make quick, and hopefully, correct decisions.

We certainly don’t need to be reminded about stress, but perhaps we do need to be reminded about how best to manage it. And this is one of the messages to come from World Mental Health Day (October 10). Each year, World Mental Health Day aims to promote good mental health and aims to raise public awareness of mental health issues.

The Mental Health Council of Australia (MHCA) uses the flannel flower as a symbol for mental health awareness. The flannel flower, an Australian native, is commonly found growing wild in the Australian bush. To survive the extremes of climate the flannel flower has to be adaptable. And so, according to the MHCA, regardless of our life’s circumstances, we also need to develop resilience and the ability to adapt to change in order to maintain and strengthen our mental health.

Just as the flannel flowers, with their open petals and their soft silky texture encourage contact, so too we need to be open and empathetic with the person experiencing mental health problems. It will not only help with the person’s recovery but also help change the negative attitudes our society has towards mental illness.

Some studies suggest that we inherit the tendency to feel more stress. Other studies describe stress as a response that is learned over a lifetime. In any event, people who experience high levels of stress, tend to hold beliefs which make them feel threatened, ultra vigilant and out of control.

There is no doubt too much stress can be a health hazard; so the first important step in stress management involves being aware of when our stress levels become unhealthy. Once stress overload is recognised there is a range of stress management skills available to address the problem.

If you feel tense or “stressed out” almost all the time, and anxiety is affecting your everyday activities, then it’s time to have a chat with your GP. You might also benefit from the top ten Stress Less Tips from your state Mental Health Association. Check out their website at: www.mentalhealth.asn.au

For instance: go for a regular walk, or maybe a bike ride; delegate some of your work; schedule in some quiet time for yourself; relax with a good book or a movie; take regular tea breaks; catch up with friends or family; accept a compliment and give one back; cook yourself a healthy meal; book your next holiday; and don’t take life too seriously – “reduce tears, increase cheers.”

Your pharmacist can help too. There is a series of mental health information cards available from pharmacies around Australia as part of the Pharmaceutical Society’s Self Care Program. Developed with the assistance of the Department of Veterans Affairs, they cover a number of topics such as Anxiety, Depression and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Whether you have been on the winning or losing side recently, it’s important to be able to manage those tense times during and after the event.

And throughout life – not just sporting life – there’ll be plenty of stressful situations for us to cope with. Just how we cope will determine how healthy we stay. For a little extra help on how to stress less, ask your Self Care Pharmacist for the fact card titled Anxiety. There are also useful cards on subjects such as Relaxation Techniques and Sleeping Problems. Phone 1300 369 772 for the location of the nearest pharmacy providing the Self Care information.

©2008 Pharmaceutical Society of Australia