We want to believe that men have made some progress in the past decade to prioritize their health issues and risks, but there is still a “gender medical gap” between men and women when it comes to seeking medical advice, treatment and early diagnosis.

There are many health issues that are specific to men that are often diagnosed when it’s too late. The fact is that most of these issues can be prevented with regular checkups and education. AFC Urgent Care Dedham is tackling Men’s Health month by creating a resource guide for men on health issues they can prevent. It’s time to take care of yourself, man!

You May Be At Risk For These Men’s Health Issues

We encourage men to be more proactive about seeking healthcare so they can live a longer and healthier life. But, the first step is to educate guys on the major health issues and “silent ones” that can pose a threat to their strength, vitality and enjoyment of life. 

Let’s take a closer look at the top mens’ health issues:

• Heart disease 
• Prostate cancer
• Testicular cancer
• Diabetes
• Low Testosterone Levels
• High blood pressure
• High Cholesterol

Heart disease (cardiovascular disease) continues to be the leading cause of death in the U.S. Heart disease presents differently in men than in women because men often have other health conditions that can increase their chances of death. For instance, men with diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol have an increased chance of developing heart disease. This can easily be prevented by going to the doctor’s office more often, exercising more, eating healthy and avoiding a sedentary lifestyle. 

Any one of these health conditions can limit your day to day routine. Oftentimes these health conditions, if left undetected or untreated, can lead to heart failure, stroke, heart attack, kidney disease, amputations and other complications.

Then there’s the “Big C”. Cancer is another main cause of death in men, specifically, prostate cancer and testicular cancer which are often diagnosed too late. Men: You need to perform more self checks for testicular cancer at-home. Did you know testicular cancer is very common in men from ages 15-34? On the other hand, prostate cancer is a serious health threat for older men, especially when they don’t go to the doctor that often. 

Don’t wait for the problem to come to you. Do yourself a favor, man, and get checked more often. 

Injuries Are Another Threat To Men’s health

Labor statistics (BLS) continue to show this gender gap and how the type of jobs can increase a man’s health risk (60% compared to 40% women). This June’s Health and Safety month, we highly encourage more men to get a checkup, consider more safety precautions at work, wear protective gear and avoid being overzealous at the jobsite because danger is secretly attracted to you.

Prioritizing Your Health Starts With A Checkup At AFC Urgent Care Dedham

AFC Urgent Care Dedham is here to help address these men’s health issues by offering routine checkups for men looking to check their cholesterol, blood sugar levels for diabetes, blood pressure, and more. We also offer workers compensation services, X-rays, and treatment for minor injuries like sprains, lacerations and muscular pain.

Walk-in any day of the week with no appointment needed. We’re open 8am-8pm Mon-Fridays and 8am-5pm Saturdays and Sundays.

Always here for you,  man!