Health checks and Harleys

Jane Deville-Almond reports on her free men's health-check weekend at Harley-Davidson, Wolverhampton

The weekend was an outstanding success: 52 men had a 15-20 minute full MOT, including discussion time for testicular, prostate and bowel awareness (there where probably more than 20 others who I was unable to see due to time constraints and being the only nurse there). Ages ranged from 20 to 65 but the majority were aged between 31 and 50 (65.3%. see Table 1).

 A staggering 65 per cent failed their MOT with one or more long-term health risk problem; 34 per cent failed with two or more long term health risk problems.

Interestingly, unlike the pub MOT check event where over 70 per cent of men who attended the check drank well over the legal limit, only 10 per cent at the Harley event drank. It also materialized that 15 per cent did not know the name of their GP.

Fifty five per cent of men seen had a Body mass index (BMI) over 28, falling into the pre-obese and obese class I classification , 17 per cent had a BMI over 35 putting them into obese class II, and 5.7 per cent had a BMI over 40, putting them in the obese class III. Combined with family history, some of these men will encounter serious health risks in the future if they do not address their weight problem.

Twenty five per cent of men presented with high blood pressure (a diastolic reading of over 95; 15 per cent of whom had a diastolic reading over 100). This, again accompanied with other problems or family history, could lead to serious health risks in the future.

Other results included:

• 7.6% with a cholesterol reading of over 7.6 (normal is between 3.5 and 5.2) this again was only relevant in patients who had other problems such as raised BMI and raised blood pressure. 
• 5.7% had blood sugar reading of 8 and above. The normal is between 4-6. Accompanied with a family history of diabetes or BMI over 30 this may cause problems of diabetes in the future. 
• Only 30% of those who had MOTs had blood sugar and cholesterol tests carried out. 
• Over 80% were unsure about where their prostate was, Over 80% were unsure of early signs and symptoms for prostate or testicular cancer and over 90% were unsure what signs to look out for with bowel cancer.

Other problems raised included difficulty in getting GPs to take worries seriously, in particular where mental health was concerned. Several men discussed feeling low and depressed but felt there was no one for them to turn too.

One gentleman had presented to his GP with the symptoms of bowel cancer and his GP had advised him to eat more vegetables and stop worrying (this gentlemen had not visited his GP for three years prior to this visit). Since he had lost weight over the past month and was suffering constant bouts of diarrhoea, with blood present, I advised him to go back and see his GP. Sadly, he confessed that he didn't think it was worth it as his GP did not seem to care.

This raises the important point that not only should we encourage early detection of certain diseases but we must make sure that the medical profession acts upon them and listens to patients.