The Mystery of Men and Why They Avoid the Doctor

Do you ever feel like you pester the men in your life to go to the doctor? Generally, men tend to die sooner than woman, and while there are many factors to this statistic, it's hard to ignore the fact that it may be due to men avoiding the doctor and not getting treatment for otherwise preventable diseases. In honor of Men's Health Awareness Month, we're going to help you understand what it is that's stopping men from visiting the doctor and what you can do to get them to make their health a priority.

What Men Are Saying

"There's nothing wrong with me" - The truth of the matter is some diseases, such as heart disease, don't have any warning signs until it's too late. The only way to stay on top of your health is to get annual screenings for issues such as blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar. "It will go away on its own" - Men may not like to admit it, but sometimes they avoid the doctor because they fear what they may hear. They assume that if they ignore the pain, it'll go away, but that's not always the case. "I don't want to spend the money" - We all like to pinch pennies every now and then, but health care is not the place. More money can be saved by getting an annual check-up or screening to prevent the problem than when he goes to the doctor with what might be a life-threatening problem. An annual trip to the doctor will always be cheaper than a trip to the emergency room. "I don't like my doctor" - If the man in your life doesn't like his doctor, find a new one. He'll never know if he likes a doctor until he meets him/her. If he's having trouble finding a doctor, have him ask a friend for a recommendation. "I don't want to talk about that, it's embarrassing" - The doctor is there to help. They've seen it all. No health concerns are cause for embarrassment. "They have to put that where?" - Men and woman alike have uncomfortable preventative procedures. While no one likes these types of tests, they can help with early detection of disease. "My doctor doesn't do anything" - Going to the doctor is about preventative care. You go so you can fix a problem before it escalates. If your doctor doesn't "do anything," then maybe that means you're healthy! If you're not happy with your provider, find another.

What You Can Do To Help

Tell him why you want him to go to the doctor - We wish the men in our lives were invincible, but sometimes we must remind them that they have family or kids that want them to be there for as long as possible. When you're nagging him to go to the doctor, remind him it's because you love him. Go to the doctor with him - Maybe if you're at his appointment with him, he'll be more comfortable. Try cracking a joke here or there to break up the tension of being in the doctor's office. Make an appointment for him - If the men in your life are saying they're too busy to see the doctor, make it easier by asking if they want you to make the appointment for them. After that, all they have to do is show up. Get them talking - Encourage the men in your life to talk to friends about their health. Sometimes the first step in getting them to the doctor is having them get comfortable talking about their health.