Much about the world changed in 2021, and men’s health is likely no exception.
After all, world altering events such as the coronavirus may have had a great deal of influence in terms of how people engage with things like fitness. 2020 saw roughly one million people download fitness apps in a bid to stay fit through the pandemic, highlighting a public mood for improving one’s health.
Arguably, it might be that people had never been so in tune with their general wellbeing before the pandemic struck. But what about men specifically? Some have claimed that the coronavirus was deadlier for older men to contract, so it might be that some of them have really felt their mortality in recent times. Could all this have set the stage for men to work harder in becoming more health-conscious in 2021?
Keep reading to discover how men’s health has changed this year, and where more change could be required.
Educational Resources Becoming More Prominent
Men’s health may largely be improved through spreading awareness and the steady provision of informative resources.
Youth news website The Tab recently published an article on breaking the stigma surrounding men’s mental wellbeing in addition to promoting feelings of empathy and acceptance. These types of pieces may encourage other men to overcome any feelings of embarrassment and inadequacy and seek professional support. Self-care is a poignant topic here, and such an outlook bodes well for the support on offer in 2021 and beyond.
Awareness for men’s health expands beyond mental health also. More resources are being provided in the way of preventing premature deaths in men. After all, late last year Bluebird Care made the assertion that men on average die six years earlier than women, often due to reasons that can be avoided rather easily. They recommend learning more about testicular and prostate cancers and how to check for them, staying active, and of course, talking more about men’s health issues to improve their wellbeing.
It might be that some men feel some semblance of weakness when asking for help or seeking professional support. Many of them might hope that any health issues they identify might simply ‘go away’ in time also. However, with dialogues like those listed above constantly surfacing, it could be that attitudes to men’s health will change for the better through the year.
Online Chemists Providing Greater Confidence
Of course, as society collectively lifts the taboo on men’s health issues, many men may find it easier to be proactive about their health concerns.
Many online chemists will try to nurture that sense of confidence too. For example, some men may be nervously questioning how to get Viagra on the NHS, as its only available via their prescriptions in special circumstances. Instead, Chemist Click offer prescription Viagra at an affordable price in varying strengths to help a broad range of patients. Moreover, they also provide confidential consultation services so that patients can air any queries and concerns. Not only this, but they package and deliver their treatments discretely, and offer an estimated delivery time to provide some additional assurances in such an anxious period. As you can see, they try to get the extra mile here.
Dedicated online chemists are now providing a constantly accessible level of care, while also filling in gaps a critically underfunded NHS leaves behind. Noticeably, there is also a lack of deceptive marketing tactics here. Salesman rhetoric and conjecture that could frequently appear online is replaced with uncompromising instructions on dosages, side effects, and how to use the treatment safely too. 2021 may be a time of taking men’s health more seriously, and this approach may reflect that and give men the final push they need to look after their health.
Little is Changing for Transgender Men
Unfortunately, nothing has changed in some areas of men’s health this year.
In August 2020, BBC Future ran a feature titled ‘Why transgender people are ignored by modern medicine’, highlighting the complications of treating some transgender individuals. Reportedly, US doctors were uncertain of what dosages of medicine to prescribe transgender patients, due to the differences in male and female biology and how they react to pharmaceuticals. Sadly, some refused treatment entirely.
Regrettably, sometimes the ignoring is mutual also. Despite reportedly being more susceptible to various illnesses and diseases, trans people may be less likely to seek treatment when they do encounter health problems. They may even fear being outed by healthcare professionals against their will, so even confiding in doctors is a huge undertaking for them.
Obviously, there’re a multitude of issues at work here that aren’t isolated to transgender men alone. Still, they’re a part of things here. Conducting greater research on how different transitioned bodies process drugs should help doctors to tailor the treatment they provide. Additionally, they may want to discuss these matters with their patients more sensitively under tighter confidentiality principles. 2021 is unlikely to be the year all these problems are rectified in full, but it should be the time where progress starts to be made.
