Us lads haven’t got a very good reputation when it comes to looking
after ourselves.  Even when we are sick we only go to the doctor when
it’s really bad.

If you owned a car one thing is certain – if you don’t look after it it’ll let
you down – and your body is the same.

Going to the doctor is like getting a regular service and like a home mechanic there are things you can do for yourself like taking regular exercise and eating a well-balanced diet – and seeing your GP early
if you have any problems.

It’s a fact that up to the age of 16 boys and girls go to their GP a similar amount of times – then lads stop – probably because their mam stops taking them!  Usually the next time a bloke sees his GP is in his 50s
with chest pains after 30-odd years of beer, tabs and lardy food!

And unfortunately the official statistics don’t make great reading
– the average bloke could expect to be seriously or chronically
ill for 15 years of his life.  And cases of heart disease, stroke
and male cancers continue to affect too many men.

This booklet (and the website – www.idleeric.co.uk) will give you
practical advice about living a healthy lifestyle.  This can be your
start along Idle Eric’s road to health – like that car you need to look
after yourself and don’t forget if you have any concerns your GP is
there to help.