The Silent Killers: Why UK Men Ignore Symptoms of Serious Illness
Posted on 9th April 2025 at 10:21
When it comes to serious illnesses, men in the UK are dying unnecessarily, and often, it’s because they don’t get help until it’s too late.
Heart disease remains the leading cause of death for UK men. Prostate cancer affects 1 in 8 during their lifetime. Bowel cancer is now one of the most common cancers for men in the UK. These are serious conditions, but many of them are preventable or manageable with early intervention.
The problem? Men are more likely to ignore the warning signs.
Whether it’s chest pain, a persistent cough, fatigue, or changes in bowel habits, many men delay seeking medical advice. A 2022 Men’s Health Forum survey found that 33% of men would avoid going to the doctor, even with troubling symptoms. Some feel it’s not serious. Others fear the outcome. Many simply don’t want to “make a fuss.”
This reluctance can be deadly. The longer serious symptoms are ignored, the lower the chances of successful treatment. Late-stage cancer diagnoses are significantly more common in men, and survival rates drop accordingly.
Part of the problem is perception. Health campaigns often speak in general terms or target women. Men can feel excluded from these narratives, or may not recognise themselves in them. Even routine NHS Health Checks, available to all over-40s in England are underused by men.
So, what can we do?
Normalise health checks. Regular appointments and screenings shouldn’t feel like a last resort, they should be routine.
Change the messaging. Men need to be spoken to directly, in plain, non-judgemental terms.
Educate early. Boys and young men should be taught to pay attention to their health and not to ignore it.
Encourage each other. If you’re worried about a mate, ask them. If something feels off in your own body, check it out.
Ignoring symptoms doesn’t make them go away. In fact, it often gives them more time to grow worse.
Men’s health isn’t about fear, it’s about facts. And early action saves lives.
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Tagged as: heart disease men UK, men ignore symptoms, men’s health checks, preventable illness men, prostate cancer UK
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