Do men still avoid going to the doctor? UCLA Health stated that “data has consistently shown that men are reluctant to seek medical care despite the fact they generally face higher mortality rates and shorter life expectancies than women across most causes of death.” https://www.uclahealth.org/news/release/understanding-mens-health-risks-why-many-avoid-doctors
AARP reported that “only half of the 1,174 adult men surveyed said they get regular checkups, and 72 percent would rather do household chores such as cleaning the bathroom than go see their doctor.”
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Heart disease, cancer and accidents (unintentional injuries) are leading causes of death in men in the United States, according to the National Vital Statistics System’s mortality data (2023) via CDC WONDER https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/mens-health.htm. Additionally, 50.8 percent “of men age 18 and older” have hypertension.
@media ( min-width: 300px ){.newspack_global_ad.scaip-1{min-height: 100px;}}@media ( min-width: 728px ){.newspack_global_ad.scaip-1{min-height: 90px;}}Dr. Andino, a urologist at the Department of Urology at UCLA Health, stated that “most chronic conditions are ‘silent’ before they put patients at risk. Elevated cholesterol, high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, and infertility can all occur in the background of everyday life.” Men need to slow down and take a break from their fixer mentality and routinely tend to their own health.
Dr. Ankrehah Trimble Johnson, DO, known as “Dr. Kre,” is a board-certified family medicine physician, international public speaker, life coach, and owner of Brownstone Healthcare & Aesthetics https://brownstonehealthcare.com/about. She answered questions to raise awareness of the importance of healthy lifestyles in men.
She stated that men should at least get yearly checkups starting at age 30, when it is possible to establish a good health baseline.
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“Uncontrolled blood pressure and blood sugars are leading to more men having erectile dysfunction at earlier ages,” Dr. Kre remarked. “Controlling your blood pressure and blood sugar early on can improve heart health, eye health and sexual health.”
Men Need Comprehensive Exams
@media ( min-width: 300px ){.newspack_global_ad.scaip-3{min-height: 100px;}}@media ( min-width: 728px ){.newspack_global_ad.scaip-3{min-height: 90px;}}“Comprehensive exams should include a physical where the heart and lungs are auscultated. At that time, a complete baseline metabolic panel and complete blood counts are drawn. At 40 years old, African American men should get their prostate levels drawn,” Dr. Kre stated.
Mental health should be included in comprehensive exams. Dr. Kre advised that men should get a yearly depression and anxiety screening.
African American men should pay closer attention to their health.
@media ( min-width: 300px ){.newspack_global_ad.scaip-4{min-height: 100px;}}@media ( min-width: 728px ){.newspack_global_ad.scaip-4{min-height: 90px;}}Men who contribute to communities and homes are fathers, sons, and brothers, loved by various people in their lives. It is critical to encourage the men in your life to make medical care a part of their healthy living routines, rather than neglecting it, so they can live longer, higher-quality lives. Taking trips to seek medical guidance is time well spent. Both women and men should listen to their bodies. Dr. Kre stated that African American men should be in the habit of knowing what normal feels like for them.
“If you feel ‘off,’” go get checked out. Normalize getting regular routine care,” she advised.
Wellness Tips to Note
@media ( min-width: 300px ){.newspack_global_ad.scaip-5{min-height: 100px;}}@media ( min-width: 728px ){.newspack_global_ad.scaip-5{min-height: 90px;}}Men should not allow small health issues to grow into larger health concerns by ignoring what needs to be addressed. They should seek answers and educate themselves about self-care and their well-being. Dr. Kre noted three wellness tips that are important for men to maintain good overall health.
1. Understanding lab work and checkup results requires health literacy that aligns with staying on top of important health numbers. For example, men should know their blood pressure, blood sugar, and A1C cholesterol numbers.
2. Stay on top of screenings, including prostate screenings starting at age 40, and colonoscopy screenings at age 45. Men should get yearly eye exams, too. Additionally, checking for eye diseases such as glaucoma and cataracts can help maintain healthy eyes.
@media ( min-width: 300px ){.newspack_global_ad.scaip-6{min-height: 100px;}}@media ( min-width: 728px ){.newspack_global_ad.scaip-6{min-height: 90px;}}3. Men should be unashamed of pursuing therapy for mental health needs.
Deconstructing Stigma https://deconstructingstigma.org/guides/black-mental-health, presented by McLean Hospital, offered insight from Christine M. Crawford, MD, about how the mental health stigma among Black people can be traced back to slavery.
“At that time, it was commonly thought enslaved people were not sophisticated enough to develop depression, anxiety, or other mental health disorders,” Deconstructing Stigma mentioned.
“From those historic misconceptions, we learned to ignore mental health symptoms or call them other terms, like ‘stress’ and ‘being tired,’” Crawford added.
While understanding more about antiquated mental health beliefs, the detrimental role of stigma can be challenged. Dr. Kre added that men should seek mental health help if it is needed or recommended.
