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March Madness: Why do men keep doc in a box?
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An article in a local health mag I review made the conclusion that the majority of men only go to the doctor because the women in their lives force them to. I found it interesting they chose to report this observation in the midst of March Madness. While my guy has no issue with blocking off an entire evening to update his bracket or blocking off all of Saturday to maul over match-ups, it still shocks me that he won’t - absolutely will not - go to the Doctor.
It’s not generational. My mother would beg, plead and schedule doctor’s appointments for my father. Finally, he would give in and go. But probably only to cease the “nagging” (that’s a male word, not mine). Yet, like my mother, I am loyally devout to doctors. I schedule dentist appointments two years out, never miss a yearly and at the first sight of an unsuspecting mole; I have my dermatologist on speed dial.
As reported by AskMen.com, doctors “scoff” when asked if male patients ignore health cues that a doctor needs to be in the house. They point to the male ego, denial or the pleasure in just not knowing.
“In fact,” AskMen.com editors say, “It’s often not until death is knocking at their door that men will see their doctor.”
But AskMen.com didn’t ask “Dr. O”. Ah, yes. Dr. Sharon Orrange, MD, more casually known as “Dr. O”, is an Assistant Professor of Medicine and has an active practice in General Internal Medicine. More active than her practice is her blog. I was tickled pink to find it and, more so, to find her article on The Top 10 REAL Reasons Men Don’t Go to the Doctor. Here’s her top four...
1. You are afraid we will put our finger in your butt.
2. You are afraid we will examine your balls.
3. I feel FINE.
4. Going to the Doctor is a chick thing.
You can find the dish on her top four, and the other acclaimed reasons, on Dr. O's blog. You can find my favorite one here. Lo and behold, coming in at number 7 on the list, is the aforementioned: “Going to the Doctor is giving in to your nagging wife”. Dr. O states her recollection with a patient who gave his wife a prescription for their 20th anniversary, proof that he had finally seen a physician.
And while we will probably never know the real reason, or reasons, men stay put when health is calling, even more important before health is calling, we do know that men have higher death rates than women and prevention is the best cure. We don't know why college basketball is more important than your colon, but it’s worth it to us. Enough to sacrifice being called a “nagger” or getting dissed after dinner. Enough to forfeit 20th anniversary china settings to get you to go.
So enough all ready. Enough of March Madness. It's almost over anyway. And when it is, boys, chalk it up. Call your doc.
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