June 15-21, the week leading up to Father's Day, is National Men's Health Week. The purpose of this week is to raise awareness of preventable health issues among men and boys and to encourage early detection and treatment of disease.

 

This week gives health care providers, public policy makers, the media, and individuals an opportunity to encourage men and boys to seek regular medical advice and early treatment for disease and injury.

 

Mike Crisman, Physician's Assistant at Gothenburg Health, explained that annual exams are the key to prevention. “Annual exams and preventative screenings help detect heart disease and cancers such as colorectal cancer, prostate cancer, and skin cancer before they become advanced issues.”

 

It’s all about healthcare maintenance,” said Crisman. “Medication review and management is another important factor in men’s health. Additionally, men often think they’re immune to stress and depression but that’s just not the case. I encourage periodic depression screenings and talk to my patients about healthy ways to manage stress while incorporating healthy routines into their everyday life.”

 

This year, the national Men’s Health Week movement has decided to focus on the theme of a new decade. With a new decade comes the opportunity to both look back and look forward. This time for both reflection and prospection gives us all a unique occasion to evaluate how we have been dealing with our health, both physical and mental. Men, especially, should take this time to do just that.

 

In general, men are less likely to take care of themselves and their health than women (Brott). Men’s Health Network adviser, Armin Brott, states, "Men are half as likely to visit the doctor for a check-up as women are, and there are over 7 million American men who have not seen a doctor in over 10 years.” In addition, a Cleveland Clinic survey in 2019 found that 82% of men report trying to stay healthy and live longer for those who rely on them, yet only 50% engage in preventive care.

 

Men cited embarrassment, lack of convenience, not wanting to hear a bad diagnosis, and being told as children not to complain about medical problems as reasons for pushing off a visit to their health care provider (Wheeler, 2019). Partly as a result of dedicating less time to their personal health, male life expectancy is about 5 years less than women (Brott).

 

Now, in 2020 and the new decade, it is time for that to change. Men of every age need to be taking the time to focus on their mental and physical well-being. From 19 to 90, even if he is in“perfect” shape, a man should still be making routine appointments with his providers. There are several times in his life a man should be getting routine appointments with his health care provider to ensure that he is maintaining good health. Men are not invincible and should be engaging with their providers on a regular basis. Regular check-ups and appointments mean taking responsibility for your health and well-being and being a real man. Please reach out to your primary healthcare provider to learn more about the check-ups you or your loved one should get.

 

 

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ABOUT GOTHENBURG HEALTH

 

Gothenburg Health is a premier critical access hospital, and rural health clinic focused on serving the community of Gothenburg and surrounding areas with modern facilities and highly skilled employees. Gothenburg Health recently completed a 31 million-dollar renovation and expansion. The new construction project, completed in the spring of 2018, includes a state-of-the-art surgical suite, brand-new patient wing, prominent main entry, clinical expansion, advanced imaging suite with in-house MRI, and finally, a medically integrated YMCA. We are proud to not only offer the basics but to provide a wide variety of progressive services that have grown with the needs of our community. Gothenburg Health is dedicated to its mission of providing quality, cost-effective healthcare services while promoting wellness and quality of life in our service communities.

 

PR Contact:

Becky Jobman

Chief Development Officer-Gothenburg Health

910 20th Street, Gothenburg, NE 69138

Direct: 308.537.4094 | bjobman@gothenburghealth.org