Urology

Ever try convincing your husband, dad, brother or boyfriend it’s time to visit his primary care physician? We know men are less likely than women to ask for directions and may be less likely to routinely visit their doctor. The age-old adage “men don’t go to the doctor” is alive and well, even in today’s modern age of life-prolonging medicine. It’s time to convince men that self-care is not only sexy, but smart! Many men value caring for their looks, but miss the biggest piece of the puzzle – what’s happening inside their bodies. As a result, they ignore opportunities to find and deal with medical problems in their early stages when many conditions are more treatable and less threatening to overall health.

Men’s tendency to seek healthcare services only in “crisis” situations – and to see themselves as strong and healthy enough to skip checkups and recommended screenings – is a behavior pointing to the leading causes of death for American men, which include cardiovascular disease, lung cancer, stroke and diabetes. The risk of developing these conditions can be reduced with a combination of a healthy lifestyle and regular medical care. Many disorders, like high blood pressure and high cholesterol, are “silent” illnesses and do not cause telltale symptoms that may lead to a doctor's visit. Routine checkups and screenings are critical for detecting hidden problems and staying healthy.

Why Screening Tests Are Important

According to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, when it comes to proactive prevention and early detection, men are 24 percent less likely than women to visit a health professional for a medical appointment and 22 percent more likely than women to have neglected their cholesterol tests. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force and other medical organizations encourage men to get regular screening tests to find serious health problems early when chances of successful treatment are best. Men should ask their healthcare provider about tests for the following:

• High cholesterol. Beginning at age 35, men should get their cholesterol checked regularly, at least every five years. Men younger than age 35 could benefit from cholesterol testing if they smoke or have high blood pressure, diabetes or a family history of heart disease.
• High blood pressure. All men should get their blood pressure checked at least every two years, or more often if recommended by a healthcare provider.
• Diabetes. Men should schedule a blood glucose test for diabetes if they have raised cholesterol or high blood pressure. They should also have this test if they notice signs of diabetes, including frequent thirst and urination, extreme tiredness and blurred vision. Healthy men, starting at age 45, should get screened every three years.
• Colorectal cancer. Screenings should begin at age 50, or earlier if there is a personal or family history of colorectal polyps or colorectal cancer. Colorectal cancer screening can be done with either an annual fecal occult blood test or colonoscopy every 10 years.
• Speak with a healthcare provider about screening. The age at which men begin screening depends on several things including family history and ethnic group. The healthcare provider will decide which screenings, if any, are best for each man’s situation.

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Motivate Men to Have More Self Love

Men who go to the doctor’s office for physical pain-related needs often do so either because extreme pain directly affects their quality of life or because a loved one prompts them. Encourage all of the men in your life to put their well-being first. Above all, let them know that what makes a man a man is not how strong he is, but how much stability he gives others. By prioritizing their health, men, in turn, offer well-being to their entire family and those they love. When they’re tempted to delay a medical visit, prompt the men in your life to think about their value as a provider, caregiver and role model.

Looking for a Freeman primary care provider? Freeman Physician Finder, 417.347.3767, can help. 

About the author
Ashley Southern, MSN, FNP, Freeman Urology Associates, devotes as much time as necessary to provide patients the opportunity to express their concerns and get their questions answered. The team at Freeman Urology Associates, including Dr. James Frogge, places a high emphasis on patient education to ensure patients have a clear understanding about their particular condition. For more information on the quality services provided at Freeman Urology Associates, please call 417.347.3703. No referrals needed.

Men tend to take very good of their vehicles and boats, but put off taking care of themselves. To get healthy and stay healthy for a long time, men need to develop the habit of taking care of their medical needs. Working a demanding job during the week and playing hard on the weekends doesn’t mean a man is healthy or without health risks. Compared to women, men are more likely to put off getting regular checkups and medical care, especially men who smoke, drink excessively or make other unhealthy or risky life choices.

Men are at high risk for certain diseases, including:

• Heart disease
• Prostate cancer
• Depression and suicide
• Diabetes
• Lung cancer
• COPD
• Unintentional injuries and accidents
• Liver disease
• Skin cancer
• Flu and pneumonia

Some of the diseases listed begin silently, without noticeable symptoms, until they have progressed to a serious point. Prostate and skin cancer are the most common cancers diagnosed in men and many times go undetected and undiagnosed for long periods of time. Many health risks men face can be prevented and treated with early diagnosis. Screening tests can find these diseases when they are easier to treat and cure. Some men hope symptoms they experience are just temporary and “will go away.” They put off seeking medical treatment until they are in great pain, or until a wife or female loved one insists on making a physician appointment for them.

Because men have a history of not taking care of themselves and not seeking early medical treatment, they die five years earlier than women, on average. Out of the leading causes of death, men lead women in all of them except Alzheimer’s disease, and this is probably because many men don’t live long enough to develop the disease.

Mental illness is another disease men do not like to talk about or admit to experiencing. Depression was previously thought of as a woman’s disease, but researchers believe this is because women seek help for depression and men tend to hide depressed feelings or express them differently than women. The National Institute of Mental Health reports at least six million men suffer from depressive disorders annually. Men who suffer with depression often turn to drugs or alcohol to suppress their feelings. This type of behavior and the stress associated with it can often lead to heart disease or certain types of cancer. Depression can also lead to suicide, the eighth leading cause of death among men.

Health issues can be scary, but avoiding them can be life threatening. Be a real man. Call your doctor. Make that appointment.

Jeffrey Grills, MD, completed his medical education at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, Missouri, and his Internal Medicine Residency at Indiana University. Dr. Grills currently serves as Vice-President of Medical Affairs at Freeman.