Continued

Now, US in particular, I have already prefaced this list by acknowledging its inadequacies. No jumping down my throat wirh accusations of sexism! Calm, rational discussion please. I'm just building on what JW put out there. I haven't set out to provoke.

To state the obvious:

The fact that men do the hard, physical things to the detriment of their health ultimately comes from their hunter-gatherer roots. In the very old days, it was the men who hunted animals and took the physical risks. But, then the risks were necessary as no food equalled starvation. It was the women who stayed at home, tended the fires and developed their nurturing side.

How is this relevant today I hear people ask. I think all aspects of our collective human history have always been embodied somewhere in contemporary society. We are part of a continuum of human experience that stretches back even to the primeval days. Some of the hunter gatherer mentality is still there in men's psyches.

So so right you are, RobP. My partner is very proud when on weekends he goes a 'huntin' and a gatherin'. His words. Also, when men shop for foods, it being more the rarity, they put in all sorts of 'treats' too. I only benefit more because my partner is the main cook (he loves to cook and well I am 'over it').

Men ought to be less ignorant about their health. And yes, the waits are the doctors' surgery does not help! What does it take to get them to do preventative care and live longer.

My partner will only go to a doctor if his prescriptions are out. His father had dropped dead of an aortic aneurism and states he ought to check his own. Does he. No. It frustrates me as I am SO the opposite.

Heart problems run in my family therefore I do everything preventative I can, as in supps and types of food and exercise. I have doctors visits to keep an early eye on it. Can I convince my partner.

I feel my partner will only do something when a real health 'fright' occurs in the way of some heart attack or a stroke. I tell him that. The non attendance to care is the part I think is most 'selfish' for the rest of the family.

Cakers

"The non attendance to care is the part I think is most 'selfish' for the rest of the family."

Spot on. This gets to me too. There are a lot of women who understand and practise preventative health and who should be able to lead an active and productive life in their old age as a result, but who will find themselves tied down to caring for a sick and ailing partner who hasn't bothered to take care of himself and is now dependent on her.

Yes, I know it's a sexist statement and a simplistic over generalisation, but I do think there's an element of truth in there too.