Charity dispels man flu myths
THE leading UK meningitis charity is
warning that 'man flu' could be life threatening and urges men to get
unusual symptoms checked out.
Men are notorious for ignoring health warnings and avoiding visits to the
doctor. Matt Barrow, from Perranporth, Cornwall, has contracted the disease
twice and is backing health professionals at Meningitis Now, encouraging men to
take flu-like symptoms seriously.
The advice supports Men's Health Week (15 June to 21 June), a national initiative
designed to raise awareness of preventable health problems and early detection
of disease among men and boys.
Matt said:- "We often think 'this will never happen to me' but it
does. Meningitis strikes fast and symptoms that initially seem like simple flu
can deteriorate rapidly. I would encourage anyone who is suffering from any
unusual symptoms to get it checked out; don't just wait for a rash."
Meningitis does not only occur in children and can affect anyone, at any time.
Matt 1st contracted meningitis is 2010. He said:- "Everything happened
extremely quickly. I went to bed with toothache and awoke in the middle of the
night being sick. Before I knew it I couldn't walk or talk. I didn't know simple
things like my date of birth, who my wife was or where I was.
I was put in an induced coma in critical care for 5 days and woke up feeling
extremely unwell with terrible hallucinations.
4 years on, I contracted the disease again, spending a further 2 days in a
coma and nine days in critical care. I am now deaf in my right ear."
Meningitis Now is the UK's leading charity working to save lives and rebuild the
futures of people affected by meningitis through research, support and
awareness.
For more information, visit:-
MeningitisNow.org.
