YOU AND YOUR DOCTOR:

YOU AND YOUR DOCTOR:

YOU AND YOUR DOCTOR:

PARTNERS IN HEALTH

T h e r e ’s no two ways about it: we men don’t take
v e ry good care of ourselves. Far too many of us
d o n ’t ever see a doctor unless there’s something
seriously wrong or our partner or spouse makes
the appointment for us.Men are half as likely to
visit a doctor for a check-up as women are, and there are over 7 million American
men who haven’t seen a doctor in over 10 years. And even when we do go to the
d o c t o r, we often don’t feel comfortable talking about our health.
Excluding pregnancy-related office visits,
women make twice as many preventative care visits as men.
Utilization of Ambulatory Medical Care by Women: CDC
So why don’t we take better care of ourselves? Part of the reason is the way we’re
brought up. As little boys, we’re taught not to cry, not to complain, and not to
show any signs of weakness. We ignore our aches and pains and play through
our injuries. In our 20s, we think we’re indestructible and see going to the doctor
as a waste of time and money. In our 30s, we’re too busy with our career and
family to go, and by the time we’re in our 40s we don’t go because we’re afraid
of what we’ll find out or we don’t want to have a rectal exam (who does?).
Being tough may have some advantages. But it’s also killing us. Most life-threatening
illnesses, including cancer, heart disease, and diabetes, can be treated or
cured if they’re caught early. However, one recent study found that two-thirds of
men wouldn’t even go to the doctor if they were experiencing chest pain or
shortness of breath—two early warning signs of a heart attack.
So here’s the deal. If you can’t remember the last time you had a complete physical,
pick up the phone and make an appointment. (You wouldn’t let 10 years go
between oil changes, would you?) If something’s hurting or just doesn’t seem
right, call. Even if you’re feeling great, call anyway. The time to see your doctor
i s n ’t when you’re hooked up to life support. It’s now, when you’re feeling
h e a l t h y.

MAKING A CHOICE

U n f o r t u n a t e l y, finding a good primary care physician isn’t as easy as it should
be—your insurance coverage may limit your choices, and if you don’t have
insurance, cost can be a big factor. But starting and maintaining a long-lasting
relationship with a good doctor is critical.
So how do you find a doctor? If you have medical coverage, start by checking
the list of “preferred providers” (doctors covered by the insurance). Then ask
friends or co-workers for recommendations. If you’re in good health, you can
probably go with a general practitioner. But if you know you have a particular
problem, try to choose a specialist in that area as your primary care doctor

BUILDING A RELATIONSHIP

A c t u a l l y, you’re not just looking for a doctor, you’re looking for a health care
p a r t n e r. And just like any partners, you need a partnership agreement. Here’s
how it works:
• It’s your responsibility to give your doctor the information he or she needs
to do his or her job. That means paying attention to your body and how you
feel, being aware of unusual changes or aches and pains that don’t go away,
and finding out as much as you can about the health of other members of
your family, and honestly answering questions. If you’re not honest, your
doctor won’t be able to help you as much as if you were honest.
• It’s the doctor’s responsibility to use all the information you give him or
her to help you stay healthy when you are, and to help you to get well
when you’re not.
• It’s your responsibility to follow the doctor’s recommendations. That means
making the lifestyle changes he or she suggests, taking medication according
to the directions, keeping follow-up appointments, and seeing specialists
when required.

PREPARING FOR YOUR FIRST VISIT

If you’re starting off a relationship with a new doctor, here are some suggestions
that will help you make the best use of your first appointment:
• Try to schedule your first appointment at a time when you’re not sick. This
will give the doctor a baseline, allowing a comparison of your symptoms
when you’re ill to what is known about you when you’re well.
• Write down all the questions, worries, or concerns you have—even the
private or embarrassing ones about sex or drug use. What you tell your
doctor is completely confidential (unless you’re doing something to endanger
another person).
• Write down your family’s medical history, including illnesses, diseases,
c h r o n i c conditions, premature deaths, and so on. Our “Time Out for Men’s
Health” self-assessment can help you collect all that information in one
place. It’s available for free at www.healthselfassessment.com. Complete
this self assessment and take it with you when you go to the doctor.
• Bring in all the medications you’re taking, as well as vitamins, supplements
and herbs.
• Make a list of all your symptoms, allergies, or reactions to medications.
• Be honest about smoking, drinking, drug use, sexual history, diet and exerc i s e .
• Write down the doctor’s suggestions, advice, and answers to your questions.
• Most doctors will be thrilled to have a patient who is truly participating in
his health care. If your doctor doesn’t listen to you, find another one.