Lifestyle disease warning for men

One in four men in the UAE are more likely to die of illnesses such as diabetes and heart disease than of natural causes – and the percentage is set to rise if men fail to take better care of their health, a leading men's health specialist warned yesterday.

This comes as a new non-profit organisation dedicated to the improvement of men's health in the UAE was launched in Dubai. The UAE Men's Health Alliance (MHA) is the brainchild of Dr Nabil Mitry, one of the leading specialists in the region dedicating his work to male-specific health issues, having worked in the UAE for more than 16 years at Dubai's Manchester Clinic.

"Men's health is a top priority in the UAE right now," Dr Mitry told Emirates Business in an interview. "One in three of us will already be suffering from a specific men's health issues, and one in four of us will likely die from it. This is because men take less time and initiative to take care of their health, seek medical advice or even search for information. Women are 33 per cent more likely than men to visit a doctor. Men are less likely to seek help for health issues due to social stigma or fear of disappointment in their community. The stakes for the good health of men in the UAE are too high to remain complacent."

According to a report by the United Nations, the average life expectancy of men from and living in the UAE is 77 years – two years less than that of women. The top causes of male death in the country are heart disease, prostate, lung and bowel cancer, as well as diabetes.

Interestingly, the biggest problem that men face is not so much a specific disease, said Dr Mitry, but diseases that are the result of a general lack of healthcare monitoring and awareness earlier in life. "The UAE has the second highest rate of diabetes in the world – 20 per cent of the population to be precise, which can lead to kidney problems, heart failure and so on," he said.

"More than one-third of men in the UAE suffer from erectile dysfunction, which is an indicator of more serious health concerns, such as diabetes and hypertension. Depression also affects one-third of the male population – it has worsened after the financial crash – and depression weakens the immune system," he added.

The aim of the MHA is to spread awareness of the importance of early disease detection through educational campaigns at workplaces, malls and closed seminars at centres. Dr Mitry elaborated: "We have the best level of healthcare in the region, and the MHA will be working closely with the Ministry of Health and Health Authority Abu Dhabi to ensure that detection and treatment is delivered to every male in the UAE."

He said awareness initiatives include mall campaigns from July to October, the launch of an 800 helpline and a new website.

Dr Mitry also stressed the importance of making lifestyle changes in order to maintain good health, thus prevent the onset of disease.

"The first thing I advise is to stop smoking if you are a smoker," he said.

"It is also important to eat a healthy balanced diet and exercise for at least 30 minutes, three times a week. Right now, I am seeing too many young men who are extremely overweight thanks to the overconsumption of junk food. This leads to diabetes, hypertension and lipodymia."

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