Macho Man: A guy's hesitancy to go to the doctor can mean more visits later

Guys who think they're too macho to seek medical help could end up making more trips to the doctor's office in the long run. A man who waits to see a physician until his problem has become more severe might need medical attention for a longer period of time, says Jeffrey Steinbauer, M.D., director of Baylor College of Medicine's family medicine clinic in Houston.

Left untreated, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes can lead to complications that require hospitalization and/or repeated visits to a physician to monitor the health problem closely. Such chronic problems are usually detected early in men who see their physician for regular checkups or minor illnesses.

PREVENTIVE CARE COUNTS
If the patient comes to the doctor routinely, the physician has a chance to recommend standard tests for men in a particular age group, such as a rectal exam for prostate cancer or screening for colon cancer, says Steinbauer. This also gives the doctor a chance to learn more about the patient's family history and other health risks.

But a number of men still seem reluctant to go to the doctor. Less than 30 percent of patients seen at family-medicine clinics in the U.S. are male. Some of Steinbauer's male patients blame their jobs. They think they're too busy to take time off for a doctor's appointment, he says.

Many women are more open to seeking medical care, especially those who become pregnant and get used to regularly-scheduled doctor's appointments, Steinbauer says. Men don't have a similar experience in their lives that acquaints them with the health-care system in early adulthood.

Women also are more likely to be the parent who brings a sick child to the doctor, so they're more familiar with the doctor's office, Steinbauer added. Dr. James Bray, a psychologist in Baylor's Department of Family and Community Medicine, attributes the absence of men in doctors' offices to social conditioning.

FEAR OF THE UNKNOWN
Men used to be taught to tough things out and not seek help unless they're hurt really badly, says Bray. "Fortunately, this has been changing as we learn more about health risks and family histories, but there are still plenty of men out there who were raised under the old school of thought," he adds.
Fear of the unknown can also deter some men from seeking medical advice. They think that if they don't know about a health problem, it won't impact them, Bray says. Spouses and significant others can help stop this pattern of behavior by educating men about the benefits of routine physical exams and early detection of health problems, and by encouraging them to call a physician when they're sick. Men aren't the only ones who will benefit, Bray adds. Boys can learn a lot from the example set by their father.

Source: Baylor College of Medicine