SAN ANTONIO — Very few of us actually enjoy going to the doctor, and in many cases try to avoid it altogether. In tonight's Healthy SA we find out how that avoidance can become deadly, especially for men.
Why for men?
Because the CDC says women are 33 percent more likely see a doctor than men, and are 100 percent better at maintaining screening and preventative care, starting with the annual checkup.
"Because catching things early, we can prevent complications, and we can even reverse diseases like high blood pressure, diabetes and pre-diabetes, high cholesterol and cancer," Dr. Elizabeth Crowley with Teladoc Health told us.
A Cleveland Clinic survey found 72 percent of men said they would rather be doing household chores than going to the doctor. 65 percent said they avoid going to the doctor as long as possible. 20 percent admitted not being fully truthful about their health with their doctor. And 37 percent said they withheld info from a previous doctor because they were afraid of a potential diagnosis.
"And they don't like to feel vulnerable. And in some groups, there's still a stigma around seeking help or admitting there's a problem," Dr. Crowley added.
According to Teladoc Health's Health Talk blog more than 40 percent of men over the age of 20 are living with obesity. Which contributes significantly to the development of multiple health issues, like diabetes and heart disease.
One in eight men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer, the second most commonly diagnosed cancer in men. And one in four cases of death in men are due to cardiovascular disease.
For many men telehealth may be the way to go. Dr. Crowley said, "Not only does it remove the physical and time constraints that are sometimes a barrier to seeking care, telehealth, you can it avoids travel time, long wait times, needs for transportation and child care."