Today is not November, it's Movember and a time of year when men must grow a moustache to show their support for a campaign to highlight issues surrounding their health.

From this year on, November is Men's Health Month in Bermuda and the Bermuda Cancer and Health Centre has affiliated with the 'Movember' Foundation to raise awareness, as well as money, for the cause.

Men are notoriously bad at looking after themselves: they're less likely than women to visit a doctor, but more likely to take risk with their health.

They're reluctant to take precautions like using a seat belt or applying sun screen and men will also put up with early symptoms of a disease for longer than women, before seeking help.

Urologist Dr Charles Dyer said he gets involved in the Movember charity every year in Bermuda, and believes men need to be proactive with their health.

"On average, men probably do neglect their health more than women. A lot of times when men do attend a doctor, the impetus has come from their partner, especially when it comes to a prostate evaluation, they try to stay clear of it, and many attach a naive fear to a simple rectal exam. "There's a small but hopefully growing group of men who get checked out on their own personal initiative."

Movember tends to focus on cancer. But it's an occasion to address other medical concerns for men as well.

¦ Heart disease is the number one men's health issue. Men smoke more and tend to neglect their diet. Quitting smoking, laying off on alcohol, eating healthier foods and more exercise are simple lifestyle steps for a healthier heart.

Pain in the chest is a common warning sign, but others are more subtle. An irregular heartbeat, especially during exercise, indicates a need for attention.

A high heart rate that doesn't easily return to normal after exercise also points to cardiovascular problems.

¦ High blood pressure is called the silent killer because there are few warning signs associated with the build-up, and for this reason men should have a blood pressure check as part of a general health checkup once a year. Don't wait until tunnel vision, or blood in your urine; get it seen to before a problem develops.

¦ Diabetes — which commonly starts with eye problems — is especially common in Bermuda, Type II in particular.

Type II diabetes is most easily prevented with a good diet and some regular exercise. Be on the lookout for frequent urination and increased thirst and hunger.

¦ Depression is under-diagnosed in men. Equating stoicism with masculinity, men are famously reluctant to talk about their feelings and they commonly respond to depression by ignoring it. Bermudian men are more susceptible to drug and alcohol abuse, and show a higher rate of suicide than women. Feeling down, feelings of lassitude or loss of interest, can be early signs of a treatable problem.

¦ According to the Ministry of Health's National Health Promotion Stategy (2008), accidents were the third leading cause of deaths on the Island.

Three times more men (nine percent) died of accidents than women. For the year studied (2006), among 15-36-year-olds, men constituted the entire category of accidental deaths.

Risk-taking and impulsive behaviour may be associated with images of manliness or confidence, but at a heavy cost. To find out more about Movember in Bermuda and support local participants, log on at www.chc.bm.

* Are you taking part in Movember? If so, e-mail Jonathan Bell to let him know what you are doing and why. Contact him on jbell@royalgazette.bm or call 295 5881.

* If you are growing a moustache, send us the pictures! E-mail photos@royalgazette.bm.