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Senior Citizen Health & Medicine
New Survey Finds Majority of Men Avoid Preventive
Health Measures
June is Men's Health Month but men don't make
health a priority
June 19, 2007 Men do not live as long as women,
but part of the reason may be the lack of attention men pay to their own
healthcare. From skipping important health screenings - even when free
from Medicare - to avoiding a
visit to the doctor altogether, new results from a survey released by
the American Academy of Family Physicians indicate men continue to fall
short when it comes to managing their personal health.
The AAFP recently surveyed 2,282 men and women
across the country about their health behaviors.
Among the findings:
● Almost one in five men (18%) 55 years and older
have never received the recommended screening for colon cancer.
● More than half (55%) of all men surveyed have
not seen their primary care physician for a physical exam within the
past year.
● Four in 10 (42%) men have been diagnosed with
at least one of the following chronic conditions: high blood pressure
(28%), heart disease (8%), arthritis (13%), cancer (8%) or diabetes
(10%).
● More than one out of four men (29%) say they
wait "as long as possible" before seeking help when they feel sick or
are in pain or are concerned about their health.
● Despite this, almost 8 in 10 (79%) men describe
themselves as in "Excellent," "Very Good," or "Good" health.
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Read the latest news on Senior
Health & Medicine |
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Men in the United States may not be as healthy as
they say they are. The survey showed men spend an average of 19 hours a
week watching television, and more than four hours a week watching
sports, but just slightly more than one- third (38%) of men exercise on
a regular basis. And, the CDC estimates, almost three out of four (71%)
men are overweight.
"One of the biggest obstacles to improving the
health of men is men themselves," said Rick Kellerman, M.D., President
of the AAFP.
"They don't make their health a priority.
Fortunately, 78 percent of the men with a spouse or significant other
surveyed say their spouse or significant other has some influence over
their decision to go to the doctor."
Family physicians focus on prevention and the early
detection of illness by treating the whole person and the whole family
-- men, women, children, and the elderly. Family physicians provide
routine check-ups, health-risk assessments, immunizations, screening
tests and personalized counseling on healthy lifestyle choices. They
also manage chronic illnesses and coordinate care, when appropriate,
with other specialists.
"Many men are unaware that simple screening tests
and lifestyle changes can dramatically improve their quality of life,"
Kellerman said. "Family physicians are well equipped to address men's
physical, mental and emotional health concerns and provide the medical
guidance necessary to keep them in the best of health."
About the American Academy of Family Physicians
(AAFP)
Founded in 1947, the AAFP represents nearly 94,000
physicians and medical students nationwide. It is the only medical
society devoted solely to primary care.
Nearly one in four of all office visits are made to
family physicians. That is 207 million office visits each year -- nearly
62 million more than to the next medical specialty. Today, family
physicians provide the majority of care for America's underserved and
rural populations.
In the increasingly fragmented world of health care
where many medical specialties limit their practice to a particular
organ, disease, age or sex, family physicians are dedicated to treating
the whole person across the full spectrum of ages. Family medicine's
cornerstone is an ongoing, personal patient-physician relationship
focused on integrated care.
To learn more about the American Academy of Family
Physicians and about the specialty of family medicine, please visit
http://www.aafp.org/. For more information on men's health and other
family health topics, please visit
http://www.familydoctor.org/.
Survey Methodology
This survey was conducted online within the United
States by Harris Interactive(R) on behalf of the American Academy of
Family Physicians between April 30 and May 2, 2007, among 2,282 adults
(aged 18 and older) 1111 of which were men.
Men's Health Links
Men are much more likely than women to avoid seeing
the doctor unless its absolutely necessary. But fewer visits to the
doctor reduce the chances of prevention and early detection of illness.
Regular check-ups, exercising, following a well-balanced diet and
quitting smoking, if you smoke, are some of the steps you can take to
help prevent disease. National Mens Health Week is celebrated in June,
so visit the Web sites listed below to learn how you can take care of
your health.
http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/men.html:
familydoctor.org On familydoctor.org, you can find lots of information
on men's health. Visit this site to learn about prostate health,
sexually transmitted diseases, fatherhood and more. Information in
Spanish is also available on familydoctor.org.
http://www.ahrq.gov/ppip/healthymen.htm: Agency for Healthcare
Research and Quality Regular screenings can alert you to problems
before they become serious conditions. And many diseases can be treated
more efficiently when caught early. Visit the Agency for Healthcare
Research and Quality Web site for a list of screening tests for men, and
ask your family doctor which preventive tests are appropriate for you
and how often you should be screened.
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/mens-health/MC00013: Mayo Clinic
Visit the Mayo Clinic Web site to learn more about what health problems
most commonly affect men. Or test your knowledge by taking the men's
health quiz (http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/mens-health/QZ00063).
Many health problems are preventable. On this site, you can find
information on how to reduce your risk of disease.
http://americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=500: American
Heart Association Heart disease is the leading cause of death for men.
Smoking, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, family history and age
are the biggest factors that contribute to heart disease. While theres
not much you can do about your age and family history, you can take
steps to control other risk factors. Visit the American Heart
Association Web site to learn more about which factors increase your
risk for coronary heart disease and what you can do to prevent it.
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