Men over 50 know far less about serious conditions than women

Men over the age of 50 take more risks with their health than women because they know less about serious diseases and are less likely to visit a doctor.

This is according to a survey conducted by Saga, while found that 72 per cent of females were aware of the symptoms of bowel cancer compared to just 55 per cent of men.

The study involved over 11,000 Brits being questioned on their knowledge of conditions and at what stage they would consult their GP.

Despite it accounting for over 10,000 deaths in the UK each year, 41 per cent of men were found to be unaware of the systems of prostate cancer.

Males were also less likely than women to recognise the symptoms of skin cancer, arthritis, lung cancer and dementia.

Asked what would most likely cause them to  see their doctor, 82 per cent of men said blood in their urine, 78 per cent said blood in their stool and 74 per cent said any time they feel severe pain.

However, men were 21 per cent less likely to consult a doctor than women if they found a lump on their body.

Deborah Alsina, chief executive of charity Bowel Cancer UK said: "It is deeply worrying that men remain less aware of the symptoms of bowel cancer and are less likely to take part in the NHS bowel cancer screening programme than women.

"Bowel cancer is preventable, treatable and curable and should not be the UK's second biggest cancer killer, yet currently only around 50 per cent of people are living longer than five years."

A study conducted by Cancer Research UK earlier this year found that cases of bowel cancer in men have risen by more than a quarter in the past 25 years. In contrast, the rise in women is just six per cent.