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Men’s Health Awareness: Getting Men to See Their Doctors for Checkups, Screenings
2 min. read
It’s been well documented by the American Heart Association (AHA) and other medical groups that men tend to come up with excuses for avoiding the doctor, even if they have health concerns that could be serious. "Misguided masculinity keeps many men from visiting the doctor," reads a recent news release from the AHA.
Former Miami Heat center and current Heat executive Alonzo Mourning, 54, an NBA Hall of Famer, is speaking publicly about his recent surgery to remove his prostate after receiving a diagnosis of Stage 3 prostate cancer. The cancer was detected following a routine exam. Mr. Mourning is urging all men to get their routine screenings. “Unfortunately, as men, we don't like to go to the doctor,” he said. “But this is the only way to find out what's going on in your body. Prostate and even colon cancer are silent Killers. And many men won't get those diagnoses until it's too late.”
Aldo Ribeiros, M.D., an internal medicine specialist with Baptist Health Primary Care, answers some questions regarding the reluctance of men to see a doctor.
Why do you think men tend to hesitate in getting regular checkups and cancer screenings?
Dr. Ribeiros: "Like so many people, some men avoid seeing a doctor because they fear receiving bad news. They may not be physically fit, possibly overweight, and are putting off doing something about it. Some men just don't find the time. But after a certain age, they should start considering the serious consequences of putting off cardiovascular and cancer screenings."
What methods do you use to get men to open up … for you to assess their medical condition, but they might not be comfortable to talk about?
Dr. Ribeiros: "As with all patients, I try to get a full picture of their overall health and family medical history. I look for what is most troubling to them in their everyday lives when it comes to their physical and mental well-being."
Is there a pivotal age for men to start getting annual checkups -- is it 40 or 50?
Dr. Ribeiros: "At the age of 50, men should definitely be having annual checkups -- possibly at a younger age if there are underlying health issues that have presented, such as high blood pressure, cholesterol issues, being overweight or obese and other conditions. Much depends on family medical history as well."
Do you find that men who seldom get checkups are more likely to have underlying health issues, possibly high blood pressure, asymptomatic heart disease, or other chronic condition?
Dr. Ribeiros: "Absolutely. High blood pressure does not produce symptoms and is a dangerous condition to be left untreated. If men go years with seeing a doctor, there is a good chance that there's something that needs to be addressed. Putting off checkups is the worse option."
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