Why Do Men Ignore Health Issues?
June is Men's Health Month and we'd like to take this time to highlight an issue that affects many men: avoiding or ignoring health concerns when they arise.
A lot of men do not consider health to be a top priority when it comes to their lifestyle choices. This is influenced by many factors including anxiety, busy schedules and a societal expectation to be stoic and self-reliant. Let's explore:
What Do the Numbers Say?
Men generally die earlier, become ill at a younger age and develop more chronic illnesses than women. Despite these health concerns, men are also up to 50% less likely to seek medical attention than women.
65% of men said they avoid seeking medical attention for as long as possible, citing reasons such as being too busy, believing ailments will heal by themselves, and feelings of weakness.
Photo sourced from: https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/publications/diseases-conditions/common-chronic-diseases-men-compared-women-aged-65-years-older.html
According to this chart from Canada Public Health Services, men are much more likely to experience chronic illness over women. Again, this is because of many different factors including biology, stress and anxiety, but many experts believe the leading cause of this disparity is because of men ignoring symptoms when they appear.
Why Are Men So Reluctant to See the Doctor?
Societal Expectations and Gender Roles:
Starting at an early age, men are expected to adhere to certain societal expectations, which include: showing off their strength, self-reliance, and strong determination. Seeking medical care, in this context, can be perceived as a sign of weakness.
Embarrassment:
Asking for help can be seen as embarrassing for men. This can be challenging if males have a health problem they would rather keep secret like reproduction or prostate issues.
Anxiety:
Many people are reluctant to see the doctor for fear of being diagnosed with some sort of life-altering condition. The uncertainty surrounding major health issues can be scary and some might avoid the Doctor all together because of that.
What Can You Do?
As Canadians, we have many different affordable resources for health care, so it's best to use them to our advantage. Break the stigma and start caring about your health, even if you're a male. It's never too late to start. Let's go through some of the habits you can practice that will help you avoid the health concerns that have plagued others.
Schedule Regular Appointments: It's best to catch these issues before they turn into a problem. Scheduling regular appointments with your doctor is the best way to do this, as they can analyze things like: blood, lung capacity and heart issues much better than a normal person can.
Don't Be Afraid to Talk: If you have any sort of problem with your body, even something that might be embarrassing, make sure you speak with your Doctor about it. Many men will avoid problems with their sexual or reproductive health that end up becoming larger issues down the line. Don't let it get to that point.
Make Healthy Lifestyle Choices: Having a balanced diet, regular exercise, avoiding stress and getting a good night's sleep is paramount for living a healthy life. Practicing all of these habits and making them a priority will not only increase your chances of avoiding chronic illnesses, but it will also put you in a better mood, give you more energy and let you enjoy life just a little bit more.
Connect With Other Men: There are many male support groups and safe spaces for men to discuss these issues, speak about their problems and connect with other men who are experiencing similar obstacles. Speaking about your problems is a great way to get over them.
How Can We Help?
At Jo Anne's Place, we have many products that can aid you in your health journey but also specifically-made formulations to help treat men and the many different ailments they face. Let's go over some:
Men are more prone to heart disease than women. Here are some foods you can eat that will help with your heart health.
Citrus Fruits: Citrus fruits may help lower blood pressure. They’re loaded with vitamins, minerals, and plant compounds, that could help keep your heart healthy by reducing risk factors for heart disease like high blood pressure.
Salmon: Fatty fish are an excellent source of omega-3 fats, which have significant heart benefits. These fats may help reduce blood pressure levels by lowering inflammation.
Chia and Flax Seeds: Many nuts and seeds offer a concentrated source of nutrients important for blood pressure control, including fiber and arginine. Arginine is an amino acid needed to produce nitric oxide, an essential compound for blood vessel relaxation and blood pressure reduction.
Platinum Naturals EasyMulti:
This version of the product is formulated specifically for men. Easymulti is more than just a multivitamin. It is a comprehensive formula that supports heart, joints, skin & eye health, blood glucose levels, immune function and energy production with potent antioxidants, curcumin, iron, iodine and healthy oils.
Bell Prostate Ezee Flow Tea:
As we talked about earlier, some men might have trouble talking about their health problems if they're embarrassing. If you're having problems with your urine flow, Bell Prostate Ezee Flow Tea may be a great solution for you. It is used in Herbal Medicine to help relieve the urologic symptoms (e.g. weak urine flow, incomplete voiding, frequent daytime and night time urination) associated with mild to moderate benign prostatic hyperplasia.
Assured Ultimate: The Ultimate line is about improving lives, one body at a time, by correcting and maintaining metabolism and hormone balance as well as providing stress and immune support. Effective nutrient supplementation can often be the missing piece to optimal health. Their supplements are carefully formulated to provide the Ultimate in abundant energy, metabolism, health, and longevity.
Whole Earth & Sea Men's 50+: Delivering raw, whole food nutrition with real health benefits. Many of the vitamins and minerals in this nutrient-packed formula are sourced from plants such as lichen, algae, kelp, natto, garlic, tomato, and sunflower. Food-source nutrients are more easily absorbed and used by the human body.
Conclusion
Men have a harder time going to the doctor and admitting their health problems. Because of this, they are at a higher risk for chronic illness and even death. In order to overcome these problems, men need to take their health seriously and speak to a medical professional whenever a problem arises. However, the best practice is to make sure these types of issues don't occur in the first place by having a healthy diet and regularly getting exercise.
Men, we want you to be here longer, so please take your health issues seriously. Remember to stay healthy not only during Men's Health Month, but for all months as well.
