Movember is the leading charity changing the face of men's health, and this Movember I'm joining them. Together we can make a difference for men's health – in prostate cancer, testicular cancer, mental health and suicide prevention. Help me stop men dying too young.

We all have our stories where we should have taken better care of ourselves. After a few good years in my 40s where I was fit and active, running a couple of marathons, numerous half marathons and generally keeping a good level of fitness, a sore back slowed all that down to doing absolutely nothing for a few years. So a couple of years ago, at peak unfitness and after an incredibly busy year with work, while out walking with my wife Kelly I struggled to get up a hill (quite a steep hill), had a real tightness in the chest, was out of breath and looked more pale than normal. We walked home (about 2 ks) felt sort of Ok, mowed the lawns (not wise I know) and promised that I would go to the doctor. Made the appointment, only to cancel the appointment (something important was happening at work) and rescheduled for a weeks' time. Had a thorough examination with the doctor (probably 2 weeks on from the walk) which included bloods an ESG and discussions of next steps and went off to work feeling good that I had done what I needed to do, it was likely a storm in a teacup, only to get a call from that doctor who calmly stated that there were elevated levels of troponin in my bloods and it could be a signal that I was having a heart attack or have had one and ED were expecting me. To say that freaked me out is an understatement.

After 5 nights in hospital and almost every cardiological test known, I was diagnosed with Myocarditis, probably virally induced but we don't really know. So not the heart attack that it could have been but serious enough. To take a positive from this experience, I have had the opportunity that most 50+ year old men don't get to have and have had a thorough heart health assessment with no elevated risk of heart disease and the consequences that follow. Phew!!

So key takeaways Gents, get regular health check-ups, listen to your body and get things checked if it doesn't feel right or things have changed. And when your important other is telling you to go to the doctor and get things checked... Listen and do as you are told. And that important thing at work - well it wasn't that important.