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Nearly half of men delay seeking medical help for themselves – yet 92% will badger friends to make an appointment, a poll has found.

The survey of 2,000 men revealed most would tell a friend to visit the GP. Some 40% have intervened when a male friend refused to seek help, and 22% of those said they have had to step in more than once. However, 47% admitted delaying an appointment themselves for the exact same symptoms.

Only 14% said they seek help as soon as they notice symptoms, with 40% typically waiting weeks to book a doctor’s appointment. More than half (52%) admitted they often wait until symptoms become hard to ignore before reaching out for support.

But almost a quarter (23%) of those who delayed seeking help for something said it later turned out to be serious.

Those who put off making an appointment said they hoped the issue would go away on its own or felt it wasn’t serious enough to consult a doctor. Others cited long wait times (21%) or being too busy (18%), while some said they felt they needed to “tough it out” (18%).

The study was commissioned by health test provider Medichecks, which has teamed up with former footballer and broadcaster Chris Kamara to encourage men to have more conversations about their health.

The brand has taken over the Trent Navigation Inn in Nottingham with its Well Man Arms bar, encouraging men to come together for the football while putting health into the conversations they are already having.

Kamara said: “Football fans can spend hours debating who’s in the starting eleven, whether the manager got it right or who’s coming in during the transfer window. But when it comes to their own health, a lot of blokes go completely quiet.

“What struck me from the research is that nearly every man would tell a mate to get checked out if something didn’t seem right, but many won’t take their own advice.

“We’re brilliant at looking after our mates, but not always so good at looking after ourselves. I know from my own experience how easy it is to brush things off and think, ‘I’ll deal with it later’, the problem is, later can sometimes be too late.

“If we can get even a few men to stop putting things off, book an appointment, get a health check or simply talk to someone about something that’s worrying them, that’s a win in my book.”

It also emerged that 73% of men believe outdated male stereotypes — such as needing to be stoic and suffer in silence — are to blame for many not feeling comfortable seeking medical attention.

But attitudes appear to be shifting, with only 17% of those polled via OnePoll now saying they wouldn’t speak to a friend, teammate or even a family member if they were worried.

And when they do make it to the GP, just 13% said they would feel uncomfortable speaking to a healthcare professional about their concerns.

Dr Natasha Fernando, medical director at Medichecks, added: “One of the most striking findings from the research is the disconnect between how men look after others and how they look after themselves.

“The issue often isn’t a lack of awareness, it’s the tendency to put our own health at the bottom of the priority list. The reality is that many serious health conditions, including high cholesterol, high blood pressure and type 2 diabetes, can develop silently with few obvious symptoms.

“That’s why being proactive about your health matters so much, whether it’s booking a GP appointment, having a conversation with a healthcare professional or getting a health check.”