Ireland has one of the lowest rates of attendance at hospital check-ups and medical examinations in Europe, a survey has revealed.
The annual report on attitudes to health in the European Union also found that although too few Irish people undergo regular medical check-ups, they are the most positive of all European nationals when it comes to assessing their medical health. This is despite having some of the highest rates of cancer and heart disease in Europe.
Almost nine out of 10 Irish people surveyed think that they are in good general health, with Ireland having the lowest percentage of people who say they suffer long-term illnesses. Only 19 per cent said they had long-term health problems, compared with 34 per cent in the United Kingdom.
Additionally, Irish men gave a more positive evaluation of their health than women, who were more likely to encounter mental health problems such as chronic anxiety and depression.
In 2006, less than a quarter of Irish people had an X-ray, ultrasound or other medical scans in the last year, with only 46 per cent claiming to have had their blood pressure checked, indicating a reluctance among Irish people to examine their health too closely.
Of particular concern was the low percentage of men who had been tested for prostate cancer. In 2006, just 15 per cent of Irish men were screened regularly, while only 7 per cent of men and women were tested for cancer of the colon.