by MARQUETTE, Mich. (WLUC) – November is Men’s Health Awareness Month, and we’re focusing on issues that specifically impact men.
In the final part of this two-part series, we look at men’s reluctance to undergo routine checkups and prostate health.
According to a 2022 Cleveland Clinic survey, 55% of men say they don’t get regular health exams. Reasons for men are not the fear of not knowing what medical conditions they have and society’s expectations of self-reliance.
Dr. David Shahbazi is a primary care physician for UP Health System Marquette. He says routine screenings are important for men, especially as they get older.
“Women are much more likely to have routine checkups than men and routine checkups are especially important as you get older, usually over 40, screening for diabetes, screening for heart disease, screening for cancer,” Shahbazi said.
Shahbazi says he thinks his reluctance to go to the doctor comes from not wanting to appear weak.
“I think because it is a vulnerability. I think you want to be tough and there’s nothing wrong with you, so you won’t admit it if you have a problem. You are some kind of failure; you are not that successful,” Shahbazi said.
One area that is often overlooked is prostate cancer screening. However, Shahbazi says the need for screening varies by individual, so a visit to a doctor can help you determine whether you should prioritize it.
“It’s very complicated. It’s one of the hardest things for us to talk to people about, so people ask, “Should I get a PSA done?” and that is not a yes or no question, I know what I do for myself, I know what is important to me, but that may be different from what is important to you, so what I want to do is inform people so that they can express their opinion can give own decision,” said Shahbazi.
Shahbazi says the Marquette County medical community offers services for routine checkups and mental health care.
“Of the people who visit a GP, we can solve 80% of the problems, and if that is not the case, we can refer them. In our community, everyone knows everyone, so we know where to refer people and we know the other referring physicians and we have the most services available in this community,” Shahbazi said.
Shahbazi also says that having a doctor you can trust and trust is the first step to maintaining good health.
You can read the first part of our men’s health story here.
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