Peak Pursuit: How Men Can Take Charge Of Their Health By Getting An Annual Checkup
andresr
What is the one thing you can’t live without? With all things considered and eliminated, only your health is left standing. Now, what is your greatest fear? You will find that one of the most common answers is fear of death. We fear death more than anything—yet often neglect the very thing that keeps us alive: our health. It’s time we treated it like the lifeline it is.
One of the easiest and most effective ways to take accountability for your health is to get an annual checkup. However, many men have not made this part of their health routine. A Cleveland Clinic survey shows that 44% of men are skipping their annual physical exam. A major reason for this is that men fear receiving an unwanted diagnosis. They would then have to face their fear of mortality. This can trigger feelings of anxiety, vulnerability, and helplessness. Their fear is reinforced by male socialization and the expectation for men not to show vulnerability, appear weak, or ask for help. Avoiding the doctor is a coping strategy that allows them to maintain the illusion of control and invincibility while denying reality.
The reality is that the leading cause of death for men and women in the U.S. is heart disease, followed by cancer. Men have a higher heart disease and cancer mortality rate than women. Men are more likely than women to die from conditions that are preventable and treatable, partly due to lower rates of routine medical care. They also live around 5 years less than women. Men account for nearly 80% of suicides in the U.S. All of this shows that avoiding and delaying the diagnosis of treatable conditions is self-defeating, as it worsens the prognosis and leads to a higher risk of mortality. Herein lies the paradox, where men’s fear of mortality and vulnerability drives avoidance behavior that brings them closer to it.
Some of the most serious health conditions start silently and are called “silent killers,” such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, testicular cancer, skin cancer, and diabetes. An annual checkup can help detect these and other conditions early—before symptoms appear and while they are most treatable or reversible. Here’s a list of relevant health conditions that men aged 25–43 can be screened for during an annual checkup:
Obesity
Anxiety
Depression
Substance use disorders
STI’s
Low testosterone
High blood pressure
High cholesterol
Testicular cancer
Skin cancer
Prediabetes
Type 2 diabetes
Getting an annual checkup regularly allows your doctor to keep track of your baseline health measures so that changes can be detected and early disease detection is made possible. Factors such as family risk and your lifestyle choices will be evaluated so that you are well informed and preventative care can be tailored to you. Your existing conditions will also be monitored and managed. With this routine, your anxiety and fear will lessen as you develop confidence in taking charge of your health. You can improve your longevity not only by adding years to your life but also by staying healthy enough to enjoy those years and accomplish your goals. Imagine being able to stay physically active longer, maintain your independence, and continue caring for your family and loved ones. You can also reduce your ER visits and decrease your overall healthcare costs. This is how getting an annual checkup, a sign of strength and responsibility, can help you take charge of your health and life.
Interestingly, taking charge and facing realities head-on are aspects of male socialization. Research shows that some aspects of masculinity protect men’s health. Findings suggest that men who score high on certain traits that are often considered masculine ideals are more likely to go to the doctor and avoid risky behaviors. These traits are self-reliance, responsibility, emotional maturity, and an even-keeled approach. The researchers hope that these results can be used to teach men to draw on the positives of masculinity. Richard Levant, EdD, a researcher and originator of one of the primary measures of traditional masculinity, the Male Role Norms Inventory (MRNI), says, “It almost never works to tell a man to stop being masculine.” “You need to advise the man to keep up the masculine behaviors that are helpful, but challenge the ones that aren’t.”
Masculinity researcher and psychologist Will Courtenay, PhD, says, “We have to frame health-care seeking as an act of self-reliance.” “The message should be that taking charge of your health is what it means to be a real man. It’s about engaging and becoming a partner in your care. You have decision-making power about your health.” He emphasizes the importance of the patient-provider relationship and that “men generally respond better if they think their health-care providers are teammates.” It’s important to have a trusted doctor on your team, just as you have an accountant, financial advisor, lawyer, and mechanic. Find a doctor who fits your needs and build a good working relationship, one with open communication and trust.
Aging and death are inevitable, but you can make the journey more enjoyable and easier for yourself and everyone in your life by taking charge of your health. Life is too short, and there’s no time to waste avoiding things that can keep you alive and well, like an annual checkup. You have dreams, goals, responsibilities, and people who are counting on you. You are counting on yourself. Did that one hit home? It’s powerful, and so are you when you are taking actions that bring you closer to health, vitality, and life.