HJAR May/Jun 2021

46 MAY / JUN 2021 I  HEALTHCARE JOURNAL OF ARKANSAS DIALOGUE COLUMN UROLOGY WHY MEN NEED health screenings ACCORDING to a study from the Cleveland Clinic, almost 60% of men say they don’t go to the doctor regularly and only go when they feel seriously ill. Yet, studies from the CDC find that more than 40% of males 20 and older struggle with obesity and 51% of men 20 and older have high blood pressure. When it’s more important than ever for men to take care of themselves, why is it still a struggle to get them to go to the doctor? Males are programmed from a young age to not make healthcare visits a priority. As men, we are engineered to not go to the doctor. If you’re a boy — and say you reach puberty, then the age of 18 and finish high school — unless you’re mandated by edu- cation, sports or employment, you don’t go to the doctor any longer, because nobody is making you go. That’s a huge problem, be- cause regular doctor’s appointments and health screenings provide a snapshot into a man’s overall health and can help doctors pinpoint underlying issues that may be caus- ing uncomfortable symptoms. A typical men’s health checkup screens for liver functions, testosterone levels, kidney functions, energy levels, sleep disorders, elec- trolytes, sexual issues and muchmore. These tests can also help doctors detect prostate cancer, bladder cancer, cardiovascular dis- ease and diabetes. Men of all ages should see their doctor for a checkup at least once a year and possibly more often if they have certain risk factors. Early detection is key when it comes to treating a variety of conditions, but the challenge is getting men into the office. We need to start making men an active part of their healthcare. We need to let them know that we are glad when they come to the doc- tor but that this is only the first step to getting control of their health, then we can start dis- pelling some of the myths. If you give them Men’s health screenings are incredibly important, so why do so many men push them to the back burner?