One of my theories about doctor avoidance is that men are not socialized to talk about personal issues, especially health-related. Women begin going to a gynecologist for yearly visits at around 18, and they tend to seek medical advice for health symptoms as they arise. Men who don’t have health problems would have no reason to have a relationship with a doctor since they may not have seen one since “graduating” from the pediatrician at 18.Some other common reasons men evade the white coat:

  • They may not admit it, but many men are embarrassed about talking to a doctor regarding their symptoms.
  • They’re nervous undergoing rectal, prostate, and testicular exams for fear of what might be found. The American Heart Association calls this “probe-a-phobia .” But of course, the probing is totally worth it if an illness is found early, when the survival rate is so much better.
  • Some men feel they don’t have time to go to the doctor. There are 8,760 hours in a year, however, so taking two or three hours off won’t kill anyone and, in fact, could be a life saver.
  • Then there’s the most common reason of all — the belief that if they “feel fine” there is no reason to go to the doctor. In fact, one can feel fine with high blood pressure , high cholesterol, and high blood sugar. Often, even if they don’t feel so great, men will tend to wait for their symptoms to go away on their own.

Men’s Health Week began June 15 and culminates this coming weekend on Father’s Day. The goal of the campaign is to encourage men to make health their priority by taking daily steps to get healthier and stronger.

Some specific ways to encourage the men you care for to stay healthy – even if they don’t go to the doctor – is to give them easy prevention tools and tips like these:

  1. When You Snooze, You Win
    Insufficient sleep has been associated with many chronic diseases  such as obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. Get between seven and nine hours of sleep per night to minimize your risks.
  2. Know Your Numbers
    Be aware of your blood pressure and cholesterol numbers because if they’re high, your risk for heart disease and stroke goes up. Also, and maybe more important to you, high blood pressure may increase your risk for erectile dysfunction — which I’m sure you don’t want.
  3. Get Screened for Cancer
    Regular  screenings for colorectal and prostate cancer  ensure early detection if you do develop cancer or pre-cancerous signs.
  4. Get Vaccinated

Vaccines are a tried and true way to protect against serious illness.

To read more click here