There’s no evidence that wearing a hat or using a blow-dryer causes guys to go bald. Instead, it’s largely your genes (along with some hormonal factors) that cause male pattern hair loss where the hair follicle becomes smaller, resulting in shorter, finer hair and eventually no hair.

Tight caps and beanies can potentially speed up the process by dragging out loosely held hair follicles, but they are not the cause.

The size and shape of our hair follicles determine the thickness and texture of our hair. Shaving body or facial hair gives the hair a blunt tip that can make it feel coarse or ‘stubbly’ until it tapers as it grows.

Also new hair hasn’t been lightened by the sun or other chemical exposures, possibly making it seem darker than existing hair.

Pain is a warning signal, not a challenge to your muscles or your toughness. Pain is actually the brain’s way of telling your body to halt its activity and become aware of correcting the pain – not to keep going.

Often it’s temporary, but if the exercise pain persists, get it sorted and don’t try to pain-it-out – you will likely make things worse.

Men can get breast cancer, but it’s rare. The lifetime risk is estimated to be about one in 1,000 men. Identification, treatment and survival rates are largely the same for men and women.

In addition to older age, risk factors for males include family members (male or female) with breast cancer, a genetic condition associated with high estrogen levels, chronic liver disorders, alcoholism, and obesity.

A man’s sperm count can be affected by high temperatures, but evidence shows that the 0.5-0.8°C increase from your testicles’ normal 35°C happy zone that (very) tight undies may induce is not enough to drop your count.

Studies show infertility increases when testicular temperatures get over 40°C for sustained times, begging the question just who would volunteer for this research.

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths in New Zealand men, with colorectal (bowel) cancer coming in second on the fatality stakes. Prostate cancer is third, killing more men in NZ each year than women from breast cancer. Get your checks guys.

Osteoporosis is low bone density, and one in five people with it is a man.  Our bones are at their best early, and they gradually decline and get weaker from our third decade, upping the risk of breaking them as we get older.

The density of women’s bones declines slightly faster over time than with men, particularly following menopause when levels of estrogen (needed in bone growth) decline. Male testosterone promotes bone growth and density, however this also drops with age. Around half the men with osteoporosis develop this as a result of another health condition.

And you can get a beer belly even if you don’t drink. It’s all down to calories, and when your intake gets bigger than what you need or can use up, it stores as fat.

Each 330ml beer bottle has about 150-160 calories (calories go up as strength does), so they can add up. A beer belly can be a major risk for other problems, but with the right changes, shrinking that belly is a realistic thing for most.

All meats, but red and processed meats in particular, can generate possible carcinogens when cooked at very high temperatures. One type is found in the flames and smoke that are created when fat and juices drip from meat onto a heat source then stick to the surface of the meat. The other type (HCAs) are formed when high temperatures cause a chemical reaction between naturally occurring amino acids and sugars in the meat and the creatine found in muscle tissue. This is the charred meat.

Gas barbeques are not as intensely hot as charcoal flames/coals, so less potential carcinogens are created.

Oldest one around, and likely started by a dude with over-sized feet. A study in at St. Mary’s Hospital in London seems to have finally cracked this one – urologists found no statistically significant correlation between shoe size, height and (mildly) stretched penile length.

Penis size comes down to a combination of genetics and environmental factors, most in the womb before birth. Blame mum.