A renewed focus on men’s health hopes to turn stubbornness into action.

Of the biggest threats to men’s health, heart disease and cancer are atop the list, soon followed by injury, lung disease and diabetes. While no one can easily predict when or if they will be faced with these health concerns, preventative care and healthy lifestyle choices can go a long way to helping improve outcomes.

Unfortunately, many men are known for being stubborn and avoiding proper medical care unless they are faced with severe symptoms. The simple belief that if you feel fine, you must be fine is misinformed and can ultimately lead to dangerous consequences. 

We spoke with some area medical providers to get a better sense of how men should be approaching their overall health and wellness. From keeping up with routine screenings to the advancements that are transforming patient care, these experts stress the importance of being proactive and prioritizing one’s health.

Does it remain true that men are often more reluctant than their female counterparts to keep up with routine health checks? How are you working to better educate patients about preventative care? 
Yes, men are more reluctant than the female counterparts to keep up with their routine physical exam. Many men see it as a weakness to have to disclose their physical/mental complaints to a provider and not have the ability to solve it on their own. Even when they do present for an office visit, pertinent information is usually obtained from the man’s wife, girlfriend or significant other. I educate men about the importance of having an annual physical exam and to do the required screenings as recommended. Having that open dialogue and consistent conversation helps with the understanding of the importance their physical and mental health. 

–Dr. Reo Peniston, chief of family medicine, Community Health Center

With it now recommended that men start getting colon cancer screenings at age 45, do you still find many men are not receptive to undergoing a colonoscopy? Is that hesitancy due to fear or misconceptions about the procedure?
Some are, but plenty still push back. The most common reasons I see are fear of the prep and the assumption that if they feel fine, nothing must be wrong. Embarrassment plays a role too. … The problem is that early colon cancer is usually silent, so feeling fine is not a reliable signal. Rates of colorectal cancer in adults under 50 have been climbing for two decades, which is the reason screening was lowered from 50 to 45—giving patients a better chance to catch or prevent disease early and protect their health before symptoms begin.

–Dr. Mark Soliman, medical director of colorectal surgery, AdventHealth Digestive Health and Surgery Institute

How does early detection benefit patients, and how treatable is the disease when caught sooner?
Colon cancer is one of the few cancers we can actually prevent during the screening test itself, which is a major benefit for patients. Most colon cancers start as polyps, and we remove polyps during the colonoscopy before they ever turn into cancer. When we do find cancer early, the outcomes are very good. Five-year survival for early-stage colon cancer is around 90%. Once the cancer has spread to distant organs, that number drops below 15%. Early detection often means a smaller operation and a quicker return to normal life. In many cases, no chemotherapy is needed.

–Dr. Mark Soliman

What are some of the more recent advancements in eye health that are helping providers address issues more directly tied to male patients? 
From an innovation standpoint, we are in an exciting era. Ultra-widefield retinal imaging has been a game changer for screening and diagnosis. We can now capture up to 200 degrees of the retina in a single image without dilation in some settings. On the surgical side, advances in vitrectomy, the most common retina surgery, have made procedures less invasive, reduced recovery times dramatically, and improved outcomes for conditions like retinal detachment, macular holes and vitreous opacities. [What’s more], advanced injectable therapies for retinal diseases that save and protect vision are more effective, last longer and are better tolerated than in the past. 

–Dr. Nisarg P. Joshi, Florida Retina Institute

As men get older, how should their approach to proper eye health evolve? 
In their 40s, men should be establishing a baseline with a comprehensive dilated eye exam if they haven’t already. This is the decade when presbyopia becomes noticeable, but more importantly, it’s when early signs of glaucoma, macular degeneration and diabetic changes can begin to emerge. If there is a family history of any of these conditions, that conversation needs to happen earlier.

By their 50s and 60s, annual dilated exams should be non-negotiable. This is when the risk of retinal tears and detachments begins to increase significantly. 

I also counsel male patients heavily on the systemic connection. Controlling blood pressure, managing cholesterol and keeping diabetes in check. The retina is one of the most vascular tissues in the body, and it reflects the health of your entire body.

–Dr. Nisarg P. Joshi

What are some of the larger benefits of acupuncture with regard to men’s overall health?
Acupuncture plays a powerful role in optimizing men’s health by supporting the entire system—improving circulation, reducing inflammation, regulating the nervous system and enhancing recovery. We commonly see benefits in stress resilience, sleep quality, energy levels, hormonal balance and metabolic health. In today’s high-demand lifestyle, acupuncture helps shift the body from a “fight or flight” state back into a restorative mode, which is essential for long-term performance and vitality.

–Dr. Zakia L. Chang, Acupuncture of Orlando

Are your male patients often surprised by how much it can help address some of the issues they are facing?
Yes, men are often more hesitant and frequently wait until pain interferes with their daily life. However, once they begin treatment, that hesitation turns into surprise at how effective it is for mobility, recovery and stress. We often hear, “I wish I had done this sooner,” because our focus on measurable progress helps them perform better and maintain results long-term.

–Dr. Zakia L. Chang

In addition to one’s physical health, are men becoming more comfortable addressing mental health concerns?
In my experience, younger men are more likely to be open about their mental health in comparison to older men. For the older men, there is still a stigma about being diagnosed with depression or anxiety. When they have been diagnosed with depression or anxiety, they’re still some reluctance to even be treated with medications or therapy. Younger men are more open to mental health issues and treatment. Overall, men in general are still reluctant to engage in talk therapy regarding mental health.

–Dr. Reo Peniston