Men’s Health. An interesting dilemma. For years we’ve seen clinics for women, free screenings for women, sexual health centers for women, and countless women’s health initiatives. I always assumed it was because someone felt that men were hogging all the medical resources and it was women standing up for their fair share. Boy, was I wrong!
The fact is, women organized these programs to make sure they were taken care of – period. Men aren’t hogging any health resources. In fact, in a recent Harris Interactive poll, 58% of men said they simply did not go to a doctor unless they were extremely ill. We all know guys who have not been to a doctor since their sports physical in high school. It’s often a point of pride.
This helps explain why so many men don’t seek medical attention for their ED. In fact, according to the International Journal of Impotence Research, as many as 90% of men seek no treatment for ED. It would seem that men aren’t in the habit of going to a doctor period – forget about bringing up a topic as uncomfortable as their ED struggles.
We have learned that ED can be the ‘canary in the cave’ for far more serious issues. One study showed that, on average, ED began 53 months before a major heart issue. ED can signal circulatory issues, diabetes, neuropathy, cardio problems and a whole list of other conditions.
Amazingly, the first line of treatment for many men is to head to their local supplement store and play pharmacist based on advice from a body builder. When that doesn’t work, there is always the internet for help, right? There are hundreds of sites promising a cure for your ED – you just have to fork over the money, and the solution will be on your doorstep in days. Funny how we’ll avoid a doctor when it comes to our most treasured member, but we’ll trust gym rats and con men to help us out.
If you’re experiencing ED and you don’t know exactly what it causing it, call up a urologist and make an appointment. They’ll take it from there.
Bottom line? Every guy should be getting a physical once a year. Getting a baseline of your health helps docs see when real problems start to come along. A PSA test for prostate cancer, cholesterol levels, blood sugar, and a whole host of tests can be accomplished in a few vials of blood. If you don’t want to do it for yourself, do it for your family and friends.
Honor Men’s Health Month – honor yourself.
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