Every November the moustaches appear and the conversation about men’s health gets a little louder. After more than thirty years in general practice, I would like to add one simple thing to it: book the check-up.
I trained in the UK, moved to Australia in 1994, and have spent my career in family medicine. In that time I have noticed that many men are very good at looking after everyone else. They keep the family going, turn up to work and put their own appointment at the bottom of the list. Healthy Male, which is funded by the Australian Government, encourages men to see a GP for a regular check-up even when nothing seems wrong.
A general check-up is not complicated. We talk about how you have been, and where appropriate we can look at blood pressure, weight, cholesterol and blood sugar. We can also talk about sleep, stress, mood, alcohol and activity. If something needs a closer look, we plan the next step together.
Family medicine is about the whole person, not just the symptom that brought you in, and for me its real value is continuity. When you see the same GP over the years, small changes are easier to notice and conversations become easier too. Bring your questions, even the ones you think are minor, and bring a mate if it helps you make the call. A check-up is also a good time to ask about the other things men tend to put off, from persistent tiredness and changes in your sleep to a niggle that has hung around for weeks. Raising it early gives us more options and more time to work through it together, at a pace that suits you.
If you are feeling low or overwhelmed, please say so. That is as much a part of a check-up as blood pressure, and it is something I am always glad to hear about. Talking to someone you know and feel comfortable with can make a hard conversation a little easier. For urgent support, call Lifeline on 13 11 14, or 000 in an emergency.
You can see me at Marketplace Medical & Skin Clinic, 99 to 103 Broadwater Avenue, Hope Island Marketplace. We bulk bill eligible patients, so please call (07) 5510 9222 to confirm for your appointment. We welcome men from Hope Island, Sanctuary Cove, Coomera and the surrounding northern Gold Coast.
