Blog | 2021-06-16
There’s a common perception that men hate to go to the doctor and won’t go, even if they’re feeling sick. This theory has persisted throughout the years and is often the subject of jokes within families. But is it true? Unfortunately, this premise is sound: men do not go to the doctor if they are feeling well.
“In an online survey among approximately 1,174 males 18 years or older, the research found that 72 percent of men would rather do household chores, like cleaning the bathroom or mowing the lawn, than go to the doctor. Even for the men who take their health more seriously, some are holding back: 20 percent of men admit they have not been completely honest with their doctor before.”
The same study found that 77 percent of men who are married or in a domestic partnership would rather go shopping with their wife or significant other than go to the doctor.
These numbers are alarming because study after study has proven that being proactive about health, including accessing preventive services, is the key to living a long and healthy life. It is also a key component in keeping healthcare costs affordable. So why don’t more men access preventive care? The reasons are both psychological and practical in nature.
Coupled with these issues is a staggering statistic: 82% of men try to stay healthy to live longer for friends and family who rely on them, yet only 50% engage in preventive care. But to stay healthy, men need to be proactive and engaging in preventive actions. Preventive services that men need to stay healthy include height and weight/Body Mass Index (BMI) screenings; blood pressure checks; cholesterol screenings; colorectal cancer screenings, including colonoscopies, starting no later than age 50 and earlier if there is a family history of colon or rectal cancer; prostate cancer screening, and age-specific immunizations. These measures require seeing a physician on at least a yearly basis, and sometimes more often to monitor specific conditions.
The best way for men to maintain good preventive health is to establish a relationship with a primary care provider that they can trust and communicate openly.
Author: https://www.unclenoir.org/