June is National Men’s Health Month—a good time to ask an important question: when did you last see your primary care provider?
For many men, the honest answer is, “not recently.” Research consistently shows that men are less likely than women to schedule routine checkups, seek care for new symptoms or follow up on health concerns. And that gap has consequences.
The reasons men put off care are familiar:
- Feeling fine and assuming nothing is wrong
- Not wanting to take time away from work or family
- Discomfort talking about health concerns
- Assuming symptoms will resolve on their own
- Not having an established relationship with a primary care provider
The problem is that many serious conditions, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, type 2 diabetes and certain cancers, develop quietly with few or no symptoms. By the time something feels wrong, treatment is often more complicated. Routine preventive care can catch these issues early, when they’re typically more manageable.
If it’s been more than a year since your last checkup, this month is a practical reason to schedule one. Holy Cross Health primary care offers same-day and advance appointments—because the best time to see your doctor is before you need to.