DESPITE THE FACT that men, on average, live shorter lives and tend to experience the onset of chronic diseases earlier than women do, they’re far less inclined than women to seek routine preventive health care and screenings. Even when they’re experiencing pain or other physical symptoms, men often shrug off seeing a doctor for evaluation and treatment.
Whatever the motivation behind this tendency—whether it’s a false sense of invincibility, fear of embarrassment, or the misguided notion that seeking help is a sign of weakness—men have much to gain and nothing to lose by taking advantage of preventive healthcare services. Here are five reasons men would do well to “think prevention” (something most women do from a fairly young age) when it comes to their health care:
1. Many diseases are “silent.”
Many men are proudly diligent with respect to preventive motor vehicle maintenance—checking the tire pressure, changing the oil, topping off fluid levels, inspecting belts, replacing the air filter, etc.—yet can’t be bothered to schedule preventive healthcare visits to ensure their bodies are functioning as they should. They assume that because they feel okay, they must be healthy. And why bother a doctor when there’s nothing wrong with you?
But the reality is, some serious medical conditions are “silent,” causing no obvious physical symptoms. For example, one can have elevated blood pressure, cholesterol, or blood sugar yet feel just fine. Left untreated, however, these conditions can lead to very serious health issues down the road.
2. The earlier diseases are caught and treated, the better.
No doctor has ever uttered the words, “If only you’d waited a bit longer to come in, we might have been able to cure you!” Outcomes are always best when diseases are detected and treated at the earliest stage. Even in cases where the disease cannot be cured, early detection and initiation of treatment can often help patients live significantly longer and maximize their quality of life throughout the disease process.
And again, don’t assume physical symptoms will alert you that something is wrong. Many cancers, for example, cause no symptoms in the early stages, and some are already advanced by the time symptoms manifest themselves.
3. Preventive health care provides accountability Preventive health care usually involves making healthy lifestyle choices or modifications, such as eating better, exercising more, avoiding tobacco use, moderating alcohol consumption, etc. The results of these efforts (or lack thereof) are reflected in blood work values, blood pressure readings, the number on the exam room scale, and other measurements. Knowing your doctor will routinely evaluate your progress helps keep you accountable on the path to a healthier you.
4. Risk factors can be addressed You may have a family history, occupation, or lifestyle habit that puts you at elevated risk for a certain disease or chronic condition without even realizing it. In taking your history, the doctor can identify these risk factors and recommend screenings accordingly. For example, if one of your family members was diagnosed with a particular form of cancer, your doctor might recommend that you begin screening for that cancer earlier or more frequently than is recommended for individuals who are at average risk. Or, he or she might advise you to undergo genetic testing to evaluate your risk.
5. The nagging will stop!
If you’re a man who routinely shuns medical care, there’s likely a woman in your life—a wife, mother, aunt, daughter, or sister—who urges you to see the doctor more frequently. She’s not doing this to annoy or aggravate you. She’s doing it because she cares about you and wants to ensure you’ll be around in her future. Seeing a doctor for routine exams and screenings is a pretty small price to pay to make her happy and keep you healthy! ✲
