Men's Health Monday- Part I, Men's attitudes to their Health.

                                                                                                                                                          Thank you to our guest writer this week -  DR. A. PHILIP  BADEWA for this well researched article on men's health. I will lay his research out in question and answer format to make it plain and simple. Check back on Mondays throughout June for more on Men's health from his article. 

What accounts for men's attitudes towards their health ? 

 Men tend to reinforce social beliefs that they are less vulnerable than women, that their bodies are stronger than those of women (true, in many respects), and that caring for one's health is feminine, (not true).

Men's reluctance to discuss personal concerns may extend into the patient-doctor relationship, where men may be less likely to fully report their health history and the exact details of their illness. Men are also less likely to report symptoms and to use preventative health services.

There is a male tendency to suppress the expression of their own needs and to minimize pain. Also, the socially conditioned suppression of pain by men may lead to men delaying asking for help.  Thus, men may be more likely to ignore vague bodily symptoms and to wait for more concrete signs of disease, thereby delaying treatment until the more advanced stages of disease.

 Other reasons for men's reluctance to seek health care may include a lack of understanding of how to make appointments, inconvenient opening hours, long waits for appointments, lack of trust, and fear of being judged. Men may feel social pressure to not reveal any weakness that may lessen their masculinity, and thus may not seek care. 

Solutions might include providing services that men can access anonymously (e.g., via the internet or telephone help-lines), and extending opening hours of services to include evenings and weekends.

Why do men have a lower life expectancy than women? In layman's terms, why do women live longer than men?

  Generally, men suffer more life-threatening and chronic long term illnesses such as heart disease, strokes, certain cancers, and Lung diseases such as emphysema/ Chronic bronchitis. 

The under-use of Health Care Services by men is a paramount reason for men’s lower life expectancy than women. In simple terms, men do not go see their doctors, if they even have one.

 Since illness is seen as a threat to masculinity, men are less likely to seek help when ill. Often, when men seek care, their disease process is more advanced, leading to higher chronic illness and death rates.

Are there any differences in the health care services men get versus women?

Yes. It starts with the he doctor- patient meeting itself which differs between male and female patients, with men receiving less time, fewer services, less information and advice, and less encouragement to change health behaviors. The only way to get around this is to be prepared with your own precise questions before you go in.

What tends to happen even when men do receive care?

They are less likely to adhere to their medical regimen! The lesson of this? Please follow the doctors advice!  

 From the editor: Thanks again Dr Badewa for these insights. We, the wives and mothers just need to start praying for our macho men that they will seek help when necessary (we may have to remind them and God help us all!).

Funke Abolade, M.D. 

Social/publicity Secretary.