You may have heard the saying, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” There are no areas in our lives where this seems to be more appropriate than when it comes to our health. Like our vehicles, routine maintenance and repair can ensure that you catch issues early and when manageable rather than break down on the side of the road in the middle of a winter snowstorm. However, while we all recognize the importance of regular checkups and preventive care, few men get routine annual exams.
Education is critical in understanding the importance of preventive exams for men’s health, so here are some top reasons you should consider scheduling your annual exam today.
What the Stats Have to Say
In a recent Wall Street Journal article that studied why men don’t go to the doctor, they found several sobering facts about men and their lack of visits to the doctor. These included that men didn’t feel sick enough to go to the doctor or were too busy. Of the 500 men that were surveyed, about half of them said that they didn’t even discuss their health. 2 out of 5 men don’t get their annual screening or preventive exams.
Women are 33% more likely to go to the doctor and a whopping 100% better at maintaining their routine exams than men. This is especially concerning because men typically don’t have as many routine exams scheduled as women. This means that those few exams planned are even more important to catch a variety of health conditions earlier.
Save Money with Routine Exams
Ensuring you go to the doctor for routine exams is a cost-saving measure. Most health insurance companies require no out-of-pocket costs for your annual exam, including a wide variety of testing. This often is excluded from your deductible and doesn’t require a co-pay. The reason for this is simple – early detection is worth the money spent because it can help reduce overall health costs. Additionally, it offers immediate peace of mind if it doesn’t cost you anything to complete these exams.
Catching these issues early frequently means that issues can be corrected quickly and efficiently before they cost more money. A sickness or disease caught early may require a quick medication or minor procedure rather than a major hospital stay when the issue has worsened. It can also help that correcting these issues sooner may mean that you don’t have lasting health impacts that can sideline your quality of life or productivity on the job or at home.
Reduce the Chance of Serious Illness
One of the most important factors for early screening and regular checkups is to get rid of the anxiety that surrounds the health concerns of many men. While looking the other way may make you feel like there isn’t a problem, addressing the issues or finding out that you have a clean health bill can help reduce your overall stress levels. Worrying about “what ifs” can impact your life and contribute to poor sleep quality, which impacts mood and productivity throughout the day.
Some preventative screenings and tests conducted at regular exams can identify sickness or disease before you start to have symptoms. Sicknesses in the early stage are almost always more treatable than when they have become established in your body. For example, skin cancers that are detected and treated before they replicate and spread are far easier to treat than treating multiple areas over the body.
Screenings can also help keep track of normal age-related changes, such as declining testosterone levels. Low testosterone levels can cause a wide variety of symptoms, such as an increase in body fat, depression, concentration and memory problems, and more. Fortunately, this issue can be corrected with a TRT subscription that can restore low levels of testosterone.
Common Screenings to Consider
When you schedule your exam, it can be helpful to understand some of the tests and screenings that a doctor might suggest or conduct. These early screenings can help to add happier and healthier years to your life if they detect an issue early.
Here are some of the most common tests that doctors can run:
● Blood pressure screening
● Colorectal exam
● Testicular cancer exam
● Hernia
● Skin cancer screening
● Cholesterol testing
● Diabetes
● Glaucoma testing
Several tests or screenings are conducted as part of your routine exam, while others are prescribed for review at specific ages or after a predetermined period. Additionally, doctors will review your medical history to determine if you have an increased risk in any specific areas that should require additional review.
Last Words
Regardless of your role, father, husband, brother, or friend, your health is important to the people surrounding you. Taking your health seriously can help alleviate stress and ensure you have many healthy years to enjoy.
If you have been delaying your preventive exams, take control of your health now and make an appointment with your doctor today!
