Intermountain Health Caregivers Suggest Men Be Stubborn Their Health

National Men’s Health Awareness Month is wrapping up as June ends, but just because the month is past doesn’t mean men should give up on taking care of themselves. Statistics say men are less likely to go to the doctor and more likely to be hospitalized for preventable causes. This is likely due to popular ideas of masculinity, and it’s counterintuitive.

“Back in 2010, there was a big ad campaign,” said Dr. Daniel Smith with Intermountain Sevier Valley Clinic. “If you remember, there were billboards all over the country that said, ‘This year, thousands of men will die from stubbornness.’ Underneath, there was a hand-scrawled part of the billboard that said, ‘No, we won’t!’”

“It’s kind of funny, but it’s kind of not. There are interesting statistics about men’s health. Men are 24 percent less likely than women to go to the doctor. Guys just want to tough stuff through. They want to say, ‘Hey, let’s see how it is in the morning,’ or ‘Well, I’ll wait until I’m vomiting.’”

This unwillingness to get medical attention translates to a 30 percent higher likelihood that men will be hospitalized for preventable conditions according to Dr. Smith.

“If you’re not going to the doctor, then you have to ask honestly: how else do you get your blood pressure checked, or how else do you get some maintenance stuff?” Dr. Smith said.

Even younger men in their twenties and thirties who think they’re feeling fine will benefit from having a check-up and routine physical. Conditions like high blood pressure and high cholesterol can often go undiagnosed because men have no symptoms. If those conditions go unchecked and untreated, they may develop into serious health concerns like heart disease and stroke according to Dr. Smith.

Other common health screenings for men besides checking blood pressure and cholesterol levels include checking blood sugar and for skin spots. Dr. Smith emphasized the importance of having skin spots checked during a visit because of sun exposure at our higher altitude.

“Each of us living in this area has a farmer’s tan on the sun-exposed areas of our body. Going to get a screening exam is a reasonable thing to do to look for things like suspicious skin spots.”

Another important men’s health topic is colon cancer screening. Getting a colonoscopy may not be a pleasant idea, but it’s a must. According to Dr. Smith, you should get screened whether you have a family history of colon cancer or not.

“The guidelines from the American College of Surgeons say that every American by the age of 45 should have their initial screening colonoscopy,” he said.

Another much-maligned men’s health screening is the dreaded prostate exam. However, the perception of prostate exams is one Dr. Smith would like to change.

“I want to make sure that guys aren’t scared off by prostate exams. We don’t do the finger test anymore. We don’t check you that way. We check for prostate cancer with a simple blood test beginning around age 50.”

While colonoscopies and prostate blood tests come into play later in life, mental health and well-being and sexual health are two areas of men’s health that apply to men at any age. Dr. Smith said if anyone is experiencing problems with their mental well-being, they should speak with a primary care doctor or mental health professional. Likewise, they should talk with a provider about any sexual function problems, such as erectile dysfunction. They could be harbingers of more serious problems, and there are many resources available to help with these things, Dr. Smith said.

Men should also know immunizations aren’t just for children. Adults need to be caught up on their immunizations for influenza, hepatitis, and pneumonia. And when they’re age 50, it’s recommended to get immunized against shingles. Men should also be aware that Tdap vaccines, which immunize against tetanus and pertussis, are only effective for about 10 years. With recent anti-vaccination trends, these diseases are on the rise, putting men at risk.

Men’s health is not just important for men. It has an impact on their family, friends and the people that love them.

“It’s important to get in and meet with your doctor, whoever it is,” said Dr. Smith. “Let them talk to you about screening tests. Let them help you get some maintenance stuff done, and just don’t be stubborn about this. You know, by the time you’re 75 or older, your health is the thing that you’re going to be most grateful for.”

The easiest way for men to get a leg up on their health is to be seen by a primary care or family medicine provider and ask for a physical. Being stubborn can be good when it comes to health, so long as it’s being stubborn about eating a healthy diet, getting plenty of exercise, and meeting with a primary care provider at least once a year.

Daniel C. Smith, MD, is an Intermountain Medical Group family medicine physician who sees patients at Intermountain Sevier Valley Hospital and Sevier Valley Clinic.

About Intermountain Health

Headquartered in Utah with locations in seven states and additional operations across the western U.S., Intermountain Health is a nonprofit system of 33 hospitals, 385 clinics, medical groups with some 3,900 employed physicians and advanced care providers, a health plans division called Select Health with more than one million members, and other health services. Helping people live the healthiest lives possible, Intermountain is committed to improving community health and is widely recognized as a leader in transforming healthcare by using evidence-based best practices to consistently deliver high-quality outcomes at sustainable costs. For more information or updates, see https://intermountainhealthcare.org/news.