A month of hairy upper lips and awareness of men’s health.
You don’t have to wait until you are sick to see a doctor. The fact that in Australia 1 in 2 men are diagnosed with cancer and 1 in 8 men will experience depression in their lifetime, should highlight the importance of staying on top of your health.
- Men live on average 5 years less than women.
- Almost twice as many Australian men die of skin cancer than women, the fourth most common cancer among men.
- A man’s life span is affected by genetics (24%) and modifiable risk factors (75%).
- More than two thirds of Australian men are overweight or obese – increasing their chances of many diseases.
- More than 5 men die prematurely each hour from potentially preventable illnesses.
- Every cigarette you smoke takes 8 minutes off your life. Smoking a pack per day for 20 years reduces your life expectancy by 13 years.
- Men account for 70% of alcohol related deaths.
- The suicide rate is 4 times higher for men than women.
- 75% of people with diabetes die from cardiovascular diseases.
- One third of men have not seen a doctor in the past year. 10% have not seen one for five years.
These alarming statistics not only highlight the fact that men are not bullet proof like most of them would believe but also shows the importance of having the right personal protection in place when serious health events arise.
If you had a car sitting in your driveway worth $1,000,000 there is no doubt you would ensure that you had the right insurance cover on it. Even though you might get it serviced regularly there is still the risk of it breaking down, running into someone or a third party hitting the car. The same situation applies to you as an income earner, a husband and a father. Without the right insurance in place you run the financial risk of not being able to rely on an income stream or a lump sum when health events occur.
Income protection will provide a monthly replacement of income if you are unable to work due to a disability. The disability could be something as simple as a short term back issue through to stress, depression, cancer, permanent physical injury etc.
Trauma protection provides a lump sum benefit on diagnosis of major health issues such as cancer, heart issues, neurological issues and physical disabilities. Importantly, trauma protection is paid on diagnosis to cover specialist medical costs, additional income, short term lifestyle change etc. As income protection is a monthly replacement of income, having trauma protection provides additional lump sum financial security.
Total & Permanent Disability (TPD) is the third type of disability cover available which provides a lump sum benefit in the event you suffer a long term illness/injury where you are unlikely to work again. This type of cover can be used to clear debt and provide additional income streams where required.
Term Life cover provides a lump sum benefit in the event of terminal illness or death. The level of cover should be sufficient to clear outstanding debt and cover ongoing living and children costs.
As your situation changes, your insurance portfolio needs to be reviewed every 12-24 months to ensure the level of cover and policies reflect your current needs. Apart from having the right personal insurance in place, listed below are some ways you can start making an immediate change to your health.
HAVE AN ANNUAL CHECK-UP – Men typically don’t see a doctor for an annual check or when they feel sick. Get regular checks – preventative screening tests and immunizations are among the most important things you can do to stay healthy.
DON’T SMOKE – If you do smoke, Stop! Compared to non-smokers, men who smoke are about 23 times more likely to develop lung cancer. Smoking causes about 90% of lung cancer deaths in men.
BE PHYSICALLY ACTIVE – If you are not already physically active, start small and work up to a minimum of 30 minutes of moderate physical activity most days of the week.
EAT A HEALTHY DIET – Fill up with fruits, vegetables, whole grains, include lean meats, poultry, fish, beans, eggs and nuts and eat foods low in saturated fats, trans fats, cholesterol, salt (sodium) and added sugars.
STAY AT A HEALTHY WEIGHT – Balance calories from foods and beverages with calories you burn off by physical activities.
DRINK ALCOHOL ONLY IN MODERATION – Alcohol can be part of a healthy balanced diet but only if it’s in moderation, which means no more than two drinks a day.
BE AWARE OF YOUR FAMILY HISTORY – Make sure you take the time to find out about the medical history of your family. A number of health issues are hereditary and being informed can make all the difference.
Article written by Hayden White, Representative of Poole & Partners Investment Services Pty Ltd, November 2011.
This article has made reference to information supplied by beyondblue, Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia, Movember, Foundation 49.
