Focus on Men’s Health
There are a lot of stereotypes about the differences between men and women. But when it comes being proactive about health, there is a real disconnect between men and women. Despite the fact that men generally have a shorter lifespan and develop more chronic illnesses than women, studies show that men are also up to 50% less likely to seek medical help than women.
There are several reasons behind why we have created a culture where men are resistant to getting the help they need. One has to do with masculine stereotypes around the need to be tough and self-sufficient, which only get in the way of men seeking treatment. One US survey conducted by the Cleveland Clinic found that 65% of men said they avoid seeking medical attention for as long as possible, citing reasons such as being too busy, believing ailments will heal by themselves, and feelings of weakness.
The other big factor has to do with health “literacy.” Knowledge of disease warning signs, awareness of symptoms, and the importance of early medical intervention has consistently been found to be lower in men than women. And that is further exaggerated by ethnicity and socioeconomic status.