For example, in Australia, men can expect to die around 4 and a half years sooner than women and – not including suicide and reckless death – five men die every hour from a disease that could have been prevented through early detection.

Men are more likely than women to die of heart disease at an earlier age. 

Men are also at significantly higher risk of dying from liver disease than women.

In rural areas the problem is exacerbated by things like distance and access to health services and specialist care.

But there’s also a certain ‘she’ll be right’ attitude and it’s not doing our men any favours. 

Our blokes are getting better at asking for help – there’s no doubt about that.

But men, we can do better.

And no one knows that better than the Editor of the Illawarra Mercury, Julian O’Brien – the man behind this weekend’s feature article.

It’s a first person account of his experience with matters of the heart. And we’re not talking about romance!

It tells how he ignored the early warning signs and very nearly paid the ultimate price.

All it took was a visit to the doctor to realise things were terribly wrong.

His story has a happy ending – thankfully for him and his family and friends – but for so many others the outcome is not so good.

Initiatives like Men’s Health Week (12-18 June) do help to focus our attention.

This year’s theme is ‘Healthy body, Healthy mind: Keeping the balance’. It throws down the challenge, in a challenging world, for men to pick up their act.

Locally that means engaging men – bringing them together to discuss their health – both mental and physical in a bid to make a difference.

Our deputy PM has thrown his support behind the initiative locally –you can’t get more high profile than that.

But what we really need is our fellas to take the initiative. It’s for your own good!

So fellas, don’t bury your head in the sand when it comes to health matters – stand up and take ownership. It could just save your life.

And if you need more of an incentive – take a look around and see who would be impacted by your early departure from this world. It’s a sobering thought, is it not!