The government is to announce its proposals for a nationwide series of schemes to promote men's health.

Public Health Minister Yvette Cooper says that in future, health campaigns should be aimed at men as well as women.

The aim is to make sure men's illnesses are diagnosed earlier so that death rates can be cut.

Men are far less likely to visit a doctor when they are ill and are less likely to report the symptoms of disease or illness.

Death rates from coronary heart disease are up to five times higher for men than for women.

Ms Cooper said: "This government has made clear its determination to improve health across the board and to tackle health inequalities - including the stark inequality in life expectancy between men and women.

'Traditional not best'

"Traditional health promotion campaigns have not been a great success when it comes to men's health and we know that the nagging nanny state approach is a complete turn off for men and women."

The new Health Development Agency, which replaces the old Health Education Authority, will be told to look at the issue and come up with ideas to get the health message across to men.

Ms Cooper said: "The partners, sisters and daughters of men who die prematurely or whose chronic illness requires years of care have much to gain from improving men's health too."

A number of existing innovative projects were picked out by the Department of Health as good examples of what they want to reproduce nationwide.

In Warrington, there is a scheme to promote health among rugby league players which uses the players from the town's superleague team.

Another scheme in Dorset involved workplace teams competing against each other to lose weight.

Life expectancy for men is approximately five years less than for women.

Suicide rates among teenage boys are four times higher than for teenage girls, and accident death rates are much higher for young men than for women.