Men are famous for letting health concerns go unchecked and putting off routine examinations that could well save their lives.
We're stubborn and sometimes think we're invincible.
But the bad news is that false sense of security and thinking that it's not going happen to you could result in a chronic condition that could shorten your life.
And you don't have to be old to be vulnerable. Male students in the prime of life face stresses every day trying to get good grades, trying to keep from going hungry, and trying to stay on top of expenses while living student loans and part-time wages.
Recognizing the need for mobile health services to address male medical concerns, the Northern Health Authority and the Wellness Centre at UNBC have teamed up to put on a free men's health screening clinic today from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the UNBC Wintergarden.
The clinic will provide tests for cholesterol and blood sugar, and men can have their blood pressure checked. Fourth-year students from UNBC's nursing program will be on hand to staff the booths.
Wellness staff will also be available to discuss in private settings such topics as sexually transmitted diseases, alcohol and drug abuse, and mental heath issues related to stress, depression and student life.
"A lot of students experience anxiety, and cholesterol levels start to rise after you're 20 years old, so it's also important for young students as well," said Brandon Grant, men's health co-ordinator for Northern Health.
"We want to engage as many men from northern B.C. about their health as we can, making sure they know about the services available at UNBC. Men as a whole in the North are not accessing health services at the same rate as men in other health authorities and women across the province, so we need guys to be more engaged in their health.
"We know our health outcomes are worse than other men across the province so we've got some work to do. We heard during the community consultations we had last spring that we have a play-hard attitude and we know men in the Northern B.C. are smoking at higher rates. It's not going to change overnight, that's why it's great to find a partner like UNBC to get the word out."
Men's health screening clinics are also planned for Kitimat, Mackenzie, and Dawson Creek and in April will be part of the Rotary Club's Volunteer Prince George Health Fair at Pine Centre Mall.
For more information on men's health issues, go to the Northern B.C. Man Challenge men's health website -- men.northernhealth.ca.
