Are you really just tired? What Men’s Health Week wants you to know
Every June, Men’s Health Week arrives with a simple but powerful message: men’s health matters, and it deserves attention.
According to the Men’s Health Forum, 12.5% of men in the UK are suffering from one of the common mental health disorders, and yet many go undiagnosed and unsupported.
For many men, the classic response to feeling run-down, low in mood, or constantly fatigued is to push through – putting it down to a busy life, a bad patch, or simply getting older. But what if those symptoms are telling you something more specific?
The silent symptom problem
In a survey of over 1,000 employed men conducted by Opinion Leader for the Men’s Health Forum, 34% agreed or strongly agreed that they were constantly feeling stressed or under pressure.
Stress is real, and it takes a genuine toll. But stress doesn’t always tell the whole story. For a significant number of men, the tiredness, flat mood and reduced drive they put down to everyday pressure may have a physiological cause that can be identified and addressed.
When it’s more than stress
Low testosterone is more common than most men realise. Testosterone levels fall with age and may lead to loss of muscle tone, increased weight, and risk of heart disease and diabetes, with links to sluggishness, loss of libido and low mood. The Men’s Health Forum’s Testosterone FAQs offers a useful starting point for men wanting to understand more.
What’s striking is just how many men are experiencing symptoms without ever receiving a diagnosis. A UK-based study using community data found that nearly half of male respondents reported a symptom profile suggestive of testosterone deficiency, yet only 5% had received a formal diagnosis. That’s an enormous gap between what men are experiencing and what is being identified and treated.
Thyroid function is another piece of the puzzle that frequently goes unexamined in men. An underactive or overactive thyroid can produce symptoms including fatigue, mood changes, weight fluctuation, and cognitive fog – mirroring both depression and the effects of chronic stress.
Similarly, metabolic issues such as insulin resistance can drain energy, affect concentration, and contribute to persistent low mood, often quietly and gradually.
Our men’s health assessments can provide answers
The theme running through Men’s Health Week is that men deserve the same access to answers that everyone else does. Fatigue, irritability, low libido, and difficulty concentrating may be the body’s way of signalling that something needs attention.
At EssexPrivateGP, we offer tailored men’s health assessments including a comprehensive physical examination and discussion about your medical history. This can lead to blood testing including PSA screening, lipid profile testing (for cholesterol), thyroid profile, and checking HbA1C (glucose/sugar) levels. We’ll also carry out any other tests as indicated by the examination.
If you’ve been putting off that check-up or have questions about your health, book a confidential appointment with EssexprivateGP today.
