Odds are you know a man who just won’t go see a doctor.
Whether it’s your dad, spouse, son, brother, or friend, many guys always seem to find a reason to skip their annual physicals, and they don’t always get medical attention until they have a problem that’s an emergency. Throw on concerns about the coronavirus, and you might feel like they’ll never make an appointment.
Here’s the thing: the numbers show that a lot more men in our country need to. Federal data shows that on average, men die five years younger than women. Plus, men die at higher rates from nine of the top 10 causes of death.
June is Men’s Health Month, and now is the time for men to talk about issues like high blood pressure, obesity, and diabetes before it’s too late.
“When men put off an appointment, they’re missing the routine screenings for health concerns such as cancer and high blood pressure,” said Chad Gerrish, DO, of McLaren Mid-Michigan Physicians Internal Medicine. “These are all easy things to check, and we also do routine blood work that can spot other issues.”
For some, fears of being exposed to the coronavirus are keeping them from reaching out to get the care they need. McLaren is going above and beyond for the safety of their patients and staff by having everyone in their facilities wear masks, screening everyone for coronavirus symptoms when they enter, changing waiting rooms to allow for simpler social distancing, and more frequently disinfecting high-touch areas.
“We’re following all the guidelines for coronavirus safety and taking all the necessary precautions,” said Dr. Gerrish. “If someone doesn’t want to come into the office for an appointment, we have options to have some appointments by phone or videoconference.”
This Men’s Health Month, take a minute to talk with someone to encourage them to see their doctor, and make sure they know it’s worth their time.
“One step to better health for men is getting over the hesitation of seeing a doctor,” said Dr. Gerrish. “It’s generally not uncomfortable or invasive, and primary care doctors tend to be easy to talk to.”
Many of McLaren Greater Lansing’s primary care providers are accepting new patients. Click here to see a full list of providers near you.