Men’s health Awareness campaigns


Let your facial hair flourish


This season hosts two important entries in the men’s health awareness events calendar. But what are Movember and Decembeard, and how are they different?


Movember and Decembeard are held every year with the aim of raising awareness of health issues that affect men. But the thing most people remember about them is they encourage men to grow moustaches and beards. Whether you’re aiming to show off


some serious facial hair at this time of year or not, here's all you need to know about the upcoming months.


Movember means


moustaches The Movember health awareness campaign started in Australia in November 2004, with the first UK event launched in 2007. Every year since then the event has encouraged men to raise awareness of men’s health issues such as prostate cancer, testicular cancer and mental health. Across the world, men die an average


of six years younger than women, and for reasons that are largely preventable, the Movember charity says. In an attempt to urge men to take action to live healthier, happier and longer lives, the charity suggests the following top five things all men should do:


1. Spend time with people who make you feel good. Make time to catch up with your mates – it’s good for you.


2. Talk more. Being there for someone, listening and giving your time can be life-saving.


3. Know the numbers.When you reach the age of 50, it’s time to speak to your GP about prostate cancer (if you have a father or brother with prostate cancer or if you’re black, have this conversation when you’re 45).


4. Know yourself. Get to know what’s normal for your testicles and see your GP if something doesn’t feel right.


5. Move more. Try to be more active in your daily life.


Find out about what’s happening this Movember at uk.movember.com.


Decembeard: time to


grow a beard In 2011 the charity Bowel Cancer UK held the first Decembeard to raise awareness of bowel cancer by urging fathers, brothers, sons, nephews, grandads and uncles to grow facial hair during the month of December. The event has raised funds for the charity every year since then. According to the charity, bowel


cancer is the third most common cancer in men in the UK. It also says that men are less likely to recognise the symptoms bowel cancer, to see their GP if they do recognise symptoms or to return the bowel cancer screening test. However bowel cancer is treatable


and curable, especially if it’s diagnosed early. Here are the symptoms to look out for:


• Bleeding from your bottom and/or blood in your stools


• A persistent and unexplained change in bowel habit


• Unexplained weight loss • Extreme tiredness for no obvious reason


• A pain or lump in your stomach


If you have any concerns or if things just don’t feel right, see your GP. Find out more at


www.bowelcanceruk.org.uk How to care for facial hair


Bowel Cancer UK suggests several tips for grooming your beard, including the following: • Wash your beard like you would your hair, with shampoo. • Always keep the lip area clean so that you look well-groomed and not messy.


• Avoid letting it grow too long without styling it so that the lines are always kept clean and tidy.


• Always keep your beard moist – this will help it look less frizzy and be softer to touch.


50 All About health


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