Family Doctor Week - AMA urges men to visit their GP more regularly
AMA President, Dr Bill Glasson, said today that men should get into the habit of visiting their GP for a regular check-up.
Dr Glasson said that for too long Australian men have adopted an attitude of invincibility when it comes to their own health.
"Blokes often find about their own poor health or illness when it is too late - too late for them and too late for their families, friends and loved ones.
"Over the part few years, the area of men's health has received increased attention due to the emergence of evidence to indicate that on many health outcome measures men appear to do significantly poorer than women.
"These outcomes include lower life expectancy, increased cardiovascular mortality, increased suicide rates, and poorer educational achievements.
"This difference in outcomes cannot be explained solely on the basis of physiological differences.
"There has been a growing recognition that in addition to the biological differences between the sexes there are a range of other factors such as genetic, hormonal, and sociological factors that influence why men in general have worse health that women.
"One way for men to combat this and to learn more about looking after themselves is to develop a good relationship with their GP.
"When it comes to health, it's much better to ask questions now than to have regrets later," Dr Glasson said.
Family Doctor Week runs from 11 to 17 July, and is supported by American Express.