The Health Development Agency has published a report on men's health.

It found that men are more likely than women to smoke, drink heavily and use illicit drugs and so are more 'at risk' of harm associated with substance abuse.

Forum Response: Health Development Agency

Dr Jeff French, director of strategy at the Health Development Agency, told ePolitix.com: "Men's risk-taking behaviour affects their health - and this goes beyond driving fast cars or dangerous sports.

"The Health Development Agency's review, 'Risk-taking behaviour in men: Substance use and gender', examines research evidence on the health impacts of alcohol, smoking and illicit drug use on men of different ages and different ethnic and socio-economic backgrounds.

"Just one of the issues highlighted is that although the heaviest male drinkers are in the highest income brackets, evidence shows that problem drinking is twice as common in the poorest socio-economic groups.

"The review also considers the links between substance use and unsafe sex - tying in with the sexual health theme of Men's Health Awareness Week. Research indicates that adolescents who drank more than five drinks a day were 2.8 times less likely to use condoms than their peers who didn't drink.

"As well as being a co-sponsor of National Men's Health Week 2003, the Health Development Agency has established a Men's Health Reference Group to consider where research may be needed with reference to inequalities in men's health."

Forum Response: BUPA

A spokeswoman for BUPA told ePolitix.com: "BUPA recently launched a men's health campaign in order to raise awareness of the equal importance of men's and women's health issues. Highlighting the need to improve men's health communication, the Health Development Agency's recent findings reflect those of a survey BUPA carried out amongst MPs.

"The BUPA survey showed that 95 per cent of respondents felt men's health issues are of equal importance to women's, yet 86 per cent believed it was not covered enough in the UK media.

"In a recent interview with ePolitix.com, BUPA's assistant medical director, Dr Annabel Bentley, said: 'Some of the main issues currently affecting men and their health are problems like smoking, excessive alcohol consumption and obesity. All have an impact on cancer and heart disease - the two biggest killers of men in the UK today. Men are clearly at risk and the profile of men's health issues needs to be raised in order to engage people in the serious problems that face the male population.'

"BUPA has produced an ABC of Health covering a range of common conditions, treatments and health promotion topics. Copies of these were recently sent to MPs on a CD and are also available to download on the BUPA website.

"Communicating with men about their health is vital - raising awareness encourages men to talk about their health. Early detection leads to better outcomes and although men shouldn't feel lectured about their health, it is a key message to take home. For example, testicular cancer is one of the most common cancers affecting men in the 15 to 30 age bracket and if it is caught early it has a cure rate of over 90 per cent.

"Statistics from the Royal College of General Practitioners show that women tend to consult GPs more often than men. In 1998 there were 157 million consultations by women and 107 million by men. BUPA offers tailored health assessments, involving a comprehensive range of tests, including prostate blood tests where appropriate and a 45-minute consultation with a doctor. For those men who avoid visiting their GP, this is one way to stay aware of their health."

Forum Response: The Prostate Cancer Charity

Dr Chris Hiley, head of policy and research, told ePolitix.com: "In lots of places there are health weeks for all kinds of things and men are so far behind as far as their health is concerned, it makes sense to have a whole week devoted to men's health in general.

"The week is about health - not illness. It will focus on healthy workplaces, healthy bodies, healthy ways of thinking and so on. They all link together and this year they are focusing on improving men's sexual health.

"Traditionally health has been seen as a woman's issue. If you go into any GP surgery all the messages on the walls are to do with mothers and infants or women's health. They are not men friendly environments.

"Plus men are traditionally being seen as strong and more reluctant to visit the doctor. We really need to try and get men away from this and sell men the idea that a strong man is responsible and looks after his health. There is no stigma in going to the doctor."