Men: When did you last see a doctor?
For most men, visiting the doctor—even once a year— isn’t a priority. And some, if they’re honest, might not know the last time they visited one.
“Men are notorious about not getting regular checkups at a doctor’s office,” says Austin Williams, MD, a primary care provider with Kettering Health. “I see a lot of guys in their 40s and 50s who haven’t seen a doctor since they were 10 years old.”
‘Men are notorious about not getting regular checkups at a doctor’s office. I see a lot of guys in their 40s and 50s who haven’t seen a doctor since they were 10 years old.’
Why men should visit a doctor
No trophy exists for “Best at Avoiding the Doctor.” And your health risks can quickly compound as months turn to years (and decades).
“The big thing is preventative health: regular blood work and regular checks on blood sugar and blood pressure,” says Dr. Williams.
Along with getting routine blood work, seeing your doctor on a regular basis — such as an annual wellness visit — enables your provider to help you keep up with important immunizations and preventive screenings as you age. The frequency of some screenings vary according to your risk factors, which your provider can also help you determine.
Recommended screenings and ages at which men should start them include
Age 20: Blood pressure and cholesterol
Age 45 (or earlier based on risk factors): Diabetes
Age 45: Colorectal cancer
Age 50: Prostate cancer (African-american men should talk with their doctor at age 45.)
Age 55: Lung cancer, if you have a history of smoking
Age 65-75: Abdominal aortic aneurysm, if you’ve ever smoked
Men should also consider visiting a doctor any time they don’t feel well — particularly if they are experiencing difficulty sleeping, chronic headaches, changes in bowel health or chest pain.
Visiting a doctor can
A primary care provider with Kettering Health
also help you enjoy your future years. Men’s health issues such as blockage in the artery known as the “widowmaker” are wellknown. Men also have predispositions for other health issues that they can avoid or improve their chances against by seeing a doctor.
“Along with heart disease go diabetes and stroke,” says Dr. Williams. “The same things we do to prevent heart disease are all the same things that work to decrease risk of a stroke.”
A doctor’s visit can help men start to
■ Exercise
■ Lower cholesterol
■ Manage stress
■ Quit smoking
Caring for yourself and others
Whether it’s for a check-up in your 20s or a prostate exam at age 50, doctor visits are an essential (and easy) way men can care for themselves.
And as the holidays approach, they’re a reminder that caring for your own health is an important way to care for your loved ones.
“You can do your part to break the cycle of young men who do not go to the doctor—and model that behavior for your kids,” says Dr. Williams.
To schedule an appointment with a primary care provider today, visit ketteringhealth.org/find-care or call 1-844-260-8193.