Not the Doctor!!!

“There is a silent health crisis in America...it’s that fact that, on average, American men live sicker and die younger than American women.” - Dr. David Gremillion

During my research for Men’s Health Week I learned that, on average, men drink more, smoke more, are more obese, less likely to exercise, more likely to be depressed, and die an average of six years earlier than women.  As a male, this was not the news I was looking for, but at the same time I wasn’t surprised at my findings.  What was surprising is that men are ½ as likely to visit a doctor for prevention as women are.

Not only do men not make regular doctor visits for prevention, but nearly 30% of  men said they would wait "as long as possible" before seeking help for a health problem.  I consider myself as a healthy person, but after really putting some thought into it, I realized that I fall into this category of men who stay away from the doctor unless it is absolutely necessary. 

So why is this?  Why do men make less than ½ as many physician visits for prevention?  Why, when asked, do 80% of males consider their health as excellent, very good, or good, when the reality is that 32% of us are obese?  Is it fear? Pride? Ignorance? All of the above?

The Waiting

There doesn’t seem to be a clear-cut answer as to why men won’t visit a doctor, but according to the American Journal of Public Health, the No. 1 reason men don't go to the doctor is the waiting time involved. Apparently, men are deterred by sitting around in a waiting room.  I am not sure if I buy this one.  It is an easy answer to give, but are women really that much more patient than men?

Perhaps it has something to do with the waiting rooms themselves.  Many men complained that waiting rooms are geared more towards women with décor and reading materials.  Again, I find this excuse hard to swallow.  If it really bothers you that much to sit in a non-manly room for 30 minutes or so, bring your laptop, smart phone, iPad, whatever.  Entertain yourself.

Embarrassment

While it appears to be getting better over the years, men still seem to have a harder time talking about health issues than women.  Some researchers attribute this to the fact that women are socialized to have annual check-ups, where men are not.  As children, both boys and girls have annual check-ups at about the same rate. However, as girls reach reproductive age, they begin to have annual gynecological examinations.  As boys reach reproductive age, they actually begin to discontinue annual check-ups.

This might make women feel more comfortable dealing with and discussing their body’s ailments, but it shouldn’t prevent men from asking questions – especially when something is wrong.  Men believe that their physical ailments are unique to themselves and it’s easier to avoid the embarrassment of talking about them if you just avoid going to the doctor all together.

Fear

This might be the most irrational of all reasons why men don’t visit their doctor: “What if something is really wrong with me?”  Hmmm, let’s think about that.  If you get a virus threat on your computer, you never say to yourself, “Maybe there is a bigger problem that could erase all of my files.  I better not run Norton right now because I might find it.” No, you run your virus check and get rid of the problem. 

Actually, I have to admit that has kept me from the doctor’s office before.  It’s silly though.  I know it and you know it, even if it has kept you from the doctor’s office before.  The last time I had blood work completed, I remember being irrationally certain that it was going to come back with all sorts of bad news.  I was wrong and just knowing that I was healthy made me feel healthier.

Doctor=Illness=Weakness

As I stated earlier, men are less than ½ as likely to make a doctors visit for prevention.  They only see the doctor as a place to go when they are sick or injured, not when they are healthy.  The problem with this is that a person with high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and elevated blood sugars can feel fine until these symptoms get out of control or, even worse, cause death.  Now don’t fall back into the preceding reason of “fear” because most of time these symptoms can be treated and reversed with a change in diet and exercise when they are caught early.

Tough-guy syndrome also can play a role in keeping men away from the doctor.  It is looked upon that your body wasn’t strong enough to fight off whatever disease or injury occurred, therefore your body is weak.  My father is a tough-as-nails steelmill worker from the Midwest, so I am guilty of having had this outlook on doctor visits as well.  Over the years, however, I have found that the longer you wait to fix something, the more involved it gets.

Get Checked!

For Men’s Health Week, I ask every male to take a step towards their mental and physical health and make an appointment with a doctor.  In fact, whether you are male or female, reach out and encourage another person to take a step towards their health. Regular check-ups and age-appropriate screenings can improve your health and reduce the risk of premature death and disability.  As the old adage goes, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”  

Ryan John

Volunteer 

Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains