When it comes to men and their health, many take an "I'll go to the doctor when I'm sick" approach. 

“That is a common statement,” says Trevor Morris, MD, with Spring Valley Family Practice. “Men are not as preventive with their health as they should be. And then, unfortunately, when some start getting sick, it’s a little bit later in the process than we would like. We’d like them to take preventive measures up front to keep them from getting sick rather than waiting for a diagnosis that could be life-threatening.”

What’s behind men’s reluctance to access preventative care?  

“I believe it’s a combination of various things,” Dr. Morris explained. “The first thing is, men usually aren’t their own top priority. Many of the men I have as patients are always doing things for others, so it’s just not a priority for them. It’s usually a priority for someone else who cares about them – such as a wife, mother, daughter or other relative. Second, there’s a little bit of a worry that they’re not as healthy as they would want to be – and that someone’s going to make that known to them.”

And so, more often than not, men do nothing – out of fear. And, as is often the case, Dr. Morris says men too frequently put off taking care of their mental and emotional well-being.

“Increasingly, we’re seeing the interconnectivity between physical health and depression, anxiety and substance abuse,” Dr. Morris noted. “But there’s a big stigma against mental health – men are supposed to be strong, more of the stoic or quiet type whenever we’re going through stressors. So, there’s much more hesitancy to speak with a mental health professional as a result of that. Long-term, that’s harmful to us. Men have a high rate of suicide, and that is because we don’t always allow ourselves to have an outlet to have those discussions, whether it’s with our peers or with a professional.” 

Thankfully, men’s attitudes are starting to change.

“I think there’s more of a discussion today,” said Dr. Morris. “The stigma is still there, but we are having discussions. It’s on podcasts, it’s on TV more – so at least it’s being discussed. I think a lot of people know of someone who has committed suicide or who has dealt with mental health issues. So, there’s more awareness these days.”

In addition to caring for their mental health, men need to prioritize their physical health as they progress through life.

“First, the most important thing is doing preventive screenings, whether that’s colon cancer screening or prostate cancer screening,” Dr. Morris stated. “If you are someone who smokes – which I would strongly recommend against – consider imaging to screen for an abdominal aortic aneurysm and a screening for lung cancer.”

“I also recommend regular preventive care for blood pressure and making sure you don’t have a risk of coronary heart disease,” he added.

“And then lastly, men need healthier lifestyle habits – whether that is increasing your physical activity, increasing your fruit and vegetable intake, which I need to improve, as many men do, and increasing your water intake as well.”

Heart disease is a special concern for men. “Men have a much higher risk of heart disease than their female counterparts,” Dr. Morris warned. “We have higher rates of coronary artery disease, higher rates of heart attacks and strokes. So that is something you should aggressively try to prevent.”

If there is a man in your life who needs to pay more attention to his health, Dr. Morris says a gentle nudge is the best thing you can do to help him.

“I recommend they discuss how important that person is to them,” he said. “Next, I would tell them that seeing a doctor preventively is similar to taking your car to get preventive maintenance. It’s not that we’re automatically looking for something wrong, but that we’re trying to do things to get the person or the car running for as long as possible. So those would be the first two things I would say.”

Dr. Morris has one parting suggestion for men who are reluctant to access preventive care.

“Find a doctor that they get along with, that they mesh with, because then it feels more comfortable like you’re having a conversation,” he said. “I talk to my patients about sports before we talk about anything else. So, they need to find someone with whom they get along, who understands their needs.”


Trevor Morris, MD, Spring Valley Family Practice