So ladies, as CEO of the household, do you spend an inordinate amount of time trying to figure out how to get the man in your life to go for a check-up? Yeah, in this we join other wives, sisters and mothers the world over!
Are you puzzled why the men in your family refuse, absolutely refuse, to go to the doctor? Even when they feel lousy, they’ll brush it off with “I’m fine”, then head off to the pharmacy to get an over-the-counter “something” for whatever ails them.
Mmm, you’ve heard all the excuses: “I don’t have time,” being a good one. There are about 8,766 hours in a year, and he wants to save … two? These two aren’t the ones to lose! As you know some of the serious diseases don’t have symptoms. High blood pressure is one, and it can cause heart attack and stroke. High cholesterol is another symptomless condition. Ditto diabetes.
Another famous excuse “There’s probably nothing wrong” and he is probably right, but, preventative health care is called that for a reason. Finding a health problem early can make a huge difference in the quality and length of his life.
Most women see their doctors regularly during their reproductive years to talk about birth control and have PAP tests and breast examinations, but men don’t develop the same relationship. From the moment a male is born, statistics show that on average he will live a shorter life span than his female counter part by about 5 years. Why? Males have higher rates in 12 of the 15 leading causes of death.
So ladies, here’s what the experts think might work to get your significant other to the doctor:
- Talk to your partner about health related articles you came across. Suggest that this could apply to him and that you can see that he is overwhelmed. Make it his idea, right!
- Play it straight: Tell him that you love him and want to make sure that he is around for a long time.
- Appeal to his manhood. According to John Oliffe, assistant professor at the University of British Colombia in Vancouver, guys equate health with physical and sexual performance. Encourage him to understand that regularly visiting a doctor will help him to maintain his body in top form. What about a post-check-up reward …?
Also, here’s a thought, stats show that the average smartphone user checks their phone a whopping 150 times a day! Guys are very much into their gadgets, apps and tech. There are a number of men’s health apps available today to help the man in your life to live healthier. Make healthy living fun by making it a tech-driven interactive experience with positive effects.
But, before you fall down the rabbit hole that is the app store, check out these amazing health and fitness apps:
- Medical Check-up: Insert your personal details and it’ll generate the routine check-ups that you need. Amazing! (R33, IOS)
- BP Tracker: To keep track of your systolic, diastolic and pulse, all at the same time. Getting some concerning results? It may be time to see your doctor. (R16, IOS)
- SleepBot: After a good night’s sleep there’s little a man cannot achieve! This handy app will maximise his shut eye. (IOS, Android)
- Fitnet: Can’t carve out time to go to the gym? This app features five and seven minute targeted workouts, so he doesn’t have to sacrifice time with friends and family. (IOS, Android)
- Happify: Want to get better at handling stress? This app is like a gym membership for your emotional health. (IOS, Android)
- Rise: We all have the best intentions when it comes to eating healthy, but Rise is the app that keeps you honest. It pairs you up with a nutritionist, and every day you send him photos of the food you’ve eaten. Based on your specific goal (losing weight, gaining strength, or feeling more energised) your nutritionist will tweak your diet. (IOS)
The reality is that women frequently have the role of the family’s gatekeeper for health care. So ladies, lead the way to happy, healthier living.
Source: www.heart.org, www.newsworks.org, www.canadianliving.com, www.hitchedmag.com, www.oprah.com, www.today.com, greatest.com, technotox.com, www.livescience.com, www.mh.co.za
