Image by Antoni Shkraba
Men are more stubborn than women when it comes to going to the doctor. How many men do you know try to avoid the doctor’s office as much as possible? Several, right?
Most men don’t enjoy opening up and talking to their primary care providers about their health concerns. The more transparent you are with your doctor, the better. It’s important to not diagnose yourself before setting up an appointment with a doctor.
So why is it important for men to visit the doctor annually? Annual checkups are vital for anyone of any age because the health of one’s body can change drastically within a year. The key to staying in good health is knowing what’s going with your body. There could be issues taking place in your body that show no symptoms which can be life threatening.
Not only is physical health important, but the rise in mental health issues in men is on the rise. Nearly 60% of men don’t visit the doctor, even if they suffer from mental health issues.
Most common health conditions affecting adult men:
- Type 2 diabetes
- High blood pressure
- Prostate cancer
- Heart disease
- Colorectal cancer
- Shingles
Out of all of these health issues, high blood pressure is the one most people are unaware they have. If high blood pressure is left untreated it can lead to more serious issues such as a heart attack, stroke, or kidney failure.
The leading cause of death in men in the United States is heart disease. Heart disease is another health condition that men may not be aware of until an episode like a heart attack or heart failure occurs.
We highly recommend you to schedule an annual doctor’s appointment every year and keep up to date with your health.
USFHP’s TRICARE Prime Plan provides routine doctor's visits, hospitalization, prescription coverage, preventative health care, care management, specialty care and more.
Visit usfhp.net or call 1-800-241-4848 for assistance scheduling an appointment.