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Why Men’s Health Is a Women’s Issue, Too. We think of women as the traditional caretakers in a family. In many families, they manage the family schedule, shopping, homework and health. They seem to spot even the little things that need attention. So when a man’s nagging cough, sore shoulder, or troublesome stomach ache seem to persist, it may very well be the woman in his life, like many of you, who prompts him to visit the doctor. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 84 percent of adults saw a doctor or a health care professional in the last year. The majority of those adults were women. Women tend to see a doctor 56. ardentforlife.net - Summer 2017
By Lisa Liu, MD, Kaiser Permanente
more regularly because they are used to routine, regular screenings, like our mammograms or cervical cancer screenings. Plus, women are more likely to view their doctor as a partner who helps keep them healthy. While men do not require regular cancer screenings until age 50, they should know their critical numbers: blood pressure, weight, body mass index, cholesterol, and sugar. Most men may not come in to see a doctor until something is really bothering them or impacting their quality of life. When I see male patients, many tell me it was concern from a loved one, like their spouse, that brought them in for an appointment. It may be an appointment that they have been putting off for some time. Some say they delayed because they were busy or the problem wasn’t that bad. They feel healthy, except for this one little thing. They may deny their symptoms or overlook the importance of their family history.
Certainly, that’s not true for every man, but that’s what I have seen in my practice.
I think the role of a woman is crucial, because she often questions what is “normal” when it comes to health. She senses that something is taking a longer time to heal or may be impacting daily life and function, and encourages seeking out help. I would say if a patient has anything that extends beyond what you would consider normal, it’s time to see a doctor. That could include, but is not limited to: shortness of breath that persists far beyond a cold or a cough, blood in stool, chest pain.