Whatever you grow will save a bro- Movember 2019
It started as a vice-like grip across my chest. A bit of tingling in the fingers.
I had to sit down.
The pain was pretty intense and then subsided after 10 seconds.
I debated with myself.
I debated with my wife and sons.
What do I do now?
We got in the car and travelled 2 minutes to the local hospital and went straight to Emergency.
After being chastised by the triage nurse for not calling an ambulance, I was admitted to hospital and spent the night getting a couple of tests done and monitored.
The next morning, I got on the treadmill for the stress test and passed easily. I am not sure if the standards are low, but my result said I had the fitness of an average 15 year old male. As a teacher of 26 years, believe me, I have met some average 15 year old males!
Men, we need to take the state of our health seriously. Whether it is our physical, mental, emotional, social or spiritual health- we need to take a good, hard look at ourselves and use the next month to take a personal inventory of our life.
This is why I “mo”.
The state of men’s health is in crisis. Men are dying on average 6 years earlier than women, and for largely preventable reasons. Unchecked, prostate cancer rates will double over the next 15 years. Testicular cancer rates have already doubled in the last 50. And across the world, one man dies by suicide every minute of every day, with males accounting for 75% of all suicides.
The focus for funding, as it was in previous years, is for prostate and testicular cancer research along with mental health awareness campaigns. They are committed to raising awareness on the dangers of physical inactivity and investing in initiatives that encourage physical activity. Physical inactivity is a big deal. It’s the fourth leading risk factor for global mortality, causing 3.2 million deaths globally per year.
I am overwhelmed each year by the donations and the jibes I get from my fellow staff and the students I teach.
The question I am often asked is, “Why?”
Men need to take control of their health. They need to have conversations about their well-being. It is about educating and empowering men when it comes to their health. The casual discussion about moustache growth can easily and effectively turn into a conversation about men’s health.
Each Movember I literally become a walking and talking billboard for men’s health. It creates authentic conversations and the literature Movember post on their website, communicates the health messages in a way that is meaningful to men, their family and their peers.
On a personal level, it gets me to “take a good, hard look at myself” and I become more engaged with my own health. I think about the areas of my physical, social, spiritual and emotional health that need preventative action. According to Movember research, Movember participants spend more time thinking about improving their health, visiting a doctor or discussing their health with others as a result of the Movember campaign each year.
A simple strategy
Movember provides a simple strategy for men. They are strategies we ALL can do to take control of our health. Why not get that special man or special men your life to do the same?
1. Make man time
Stay connected. Your mates are important and spending time with them is good for you. Catch up regularly, check in and make time.
70% of men say their friends can rely on them for support, but only 48% say that they rely on their friends. In other words: we’re here for our mates, but worried about asking for help for ourselves. Reaching out is crucial.
2. Have open conversations
You don’t need to be an expert and you don’t have to be the sole solution, but being there for someone, listening and giving your time can be life-saving.
Listen.
3. Know the numbers.
At 50, talk to your doctor about prostate cancer and whether it’s right for you to have a PSA test. If you are of African or Caribbean descent or have a father or brother with prostate cancer, you should be having this conversation at 45. Know your numbers, know your risk, talk to your doctor.
4. Know thy nuts. Simple.
Get to know what’s normal for your testicles. Give them a check regularly and go to the doctor if something doesn’t feel right.
5. Move, more.
Add more activity to your day. Do more of what makes you feel good.
- Take a walking meeting
- Park further away from the station
- Get off the bus a stop or two earlier
- Instead of the lift, take the stairs
- Cycle to work instead of driving
I appreciate the chance to raise the issues, encourage the conversations and weather the storm of ridicule and giggles. I appreciate the chance to talk to the men I work with about their health.
To discuss with other men on staff and with students in my school about the joys and struggles of marriage and raising kids allows me to realise I am not alone. This great cause brings to the forefront of my mind, for one month every year, the fact I am not bulletproof.
Movember fights the good fight. It is changing the face of MY health. It is having an impact.
Why not encourage the men in your life to head to the doctor and let this year be the start of their annual check up?
I have had a little health scare- don’t ignore the signs or the “niggle” that won’t go away.
If you notice something, do something!
I did (for once!).
The peace of mind coming from a doctor and nurse saying that you are ok at 2:30am in the morning is worth the sleepless night on a hospital bed. It wasn’t great for my family, but imagine the alternative.
I haven’t had my annual check up. It will be done before you have read this article.
Now over to you!
Russell Modlin teaches English and Physical Education at a Christian School on the Sunshine Coast. He is married to Belinda and they have three children.