It may seem difficult to comprehend but actually what gender you are has a direct impact on how you are likely to act when it comes to requiring medical assistance, with men less likely to get any health concerns checked out than what women are.
However, the result of not being regularly checked out, especially when you have some sort of medical issue, has just the effect that you can imagine it does – missing the diagnosis of serious conditions and so a shorter life span. If this is true, then why are men so reluctant to go and visit their doctor when something is wrong?
Causes
Whenever men are asked about why they do not go for routine medical check ups, the excuses that they give are often very vague, such as putting it down to have a busy schedule or something similar. However, the experts suspect that there is a bit more to it than a simple issue of not having enough time.
From research conducted by Rutgers University and Harvard University, it is clear to see that those more masculine men who hold traditionals ideas on how men should be strong and macho are less likely to seek medical assistance.
Lots of men state that the main reason that they avoid going to see their doctor when something is wrong is through fear of being diagnosed with something that is serious and / or incurable. It is believed that this affects around 20 percent of men. However, by doing this, they are only making the problem worse and impacting on the doctor’s ability to find treatment for their condition.
Similarly, a significant proportion of men are uncomfortable with having a medical examination performed on them – especially when it is done so by a male doctor / nurse. Those exams that are highly invasive, such as rectal exploration for the purpose of prostate issues, are particularly off putting for men. This may come down to being made to feel very vulnerable – something that many men do not like.
Closing the gap
For those men who have not been to see a doctor for some time, it may be beneficial for them to do some research in order to coax them into doing so. Having knowledge may empower some men to actually go and have a check up. For instance, it is important that all men over 35 years of age should have their cholesterol levels checked out every 5 years – knowing this might be enough to persuade some men into following this advice.
Failing that, there is always the option of nagging a man into submission. Although this may seem somewhat harsh and even potentially counter productive, as no one likes to be told what to do, some 20 percent of men do admit that the only reason that they go to see a doctor is to stop a friend or family member from nagging them to do so – it may just save their life or at least clear their mind when given a clean bill of health.
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