Taking care of your health is an ongoing process; eating well and working out are only part of the equation. You can easily see the results of those efforts: you’re stronger, leaner, fitter. But what about the other markers of health that you can’t see or manage on your own, the ones that you need help to assess and manage? Your healthcare team is there for you to lean on in these moments.
Here are four smart, impactful steps that every man can take to stay healthy and virile for years to come.
Actively Manage Your Health
Let’s start with the bare minimum: Get an annual physical, every year. According to a 2021 online survey of 1,365 men between the ages of 25 and 45 years old, only 54% of respondents said they saw a doctor in the past year. If you’re in the other 46%, make an appointment today. Knowing your general health allows you to make decisions both long-term and in the heat of the moment. For instance, you need to know if you have a condition that requires management, such as high blood pressure or high cholesterol. “You may not be able to feel the damage these things are doing to your body day-to-day, but you probably just have to look at older relatives to see what can happen if you don’t treat them,” says Brendan Levy, MD, executive medical director at GoodRx, a leading digital healthcare platform that makes healthcare affordable and convenient.
Once you have a checkup, you’ll know what you’re dealing with. If you’re given a clean bill of health, working out and eating right might be all you need to do. However, if your doctor identifies a condition or two, managing your health may require a bit more effort. Working with your doctor, you’ll identify a treatment plan that works for you.
Once you figure that out, follow the plan. Not doing so can result in disease progression, diminished ability to function, lower quality of life, and increased need for medical resources (think: more medicines and hospital visits). Adhering to any prevention or treatment plan will help you live the kind of life you want to. Allowing conditions and health problems to go unchecked and untreated will set you up for diminished health now and in the future.
Know When to See a Doctor
Part of actively managing your health is understanding when to seek medical care outside of a scheduled visit. Sure, you’ll high-tail it to the urgent-care center if you break your ankle playing soccer, but when was the last time you called the doc because you were running a fever? Or experiencing diarrhea? And what about that aching back? It’s during these times that you may not seek out medical attention. Here are three times that you really should:
- You feel pain. From throbbing joints to headaches, we all deal with a certain amount of pain regularly. And while it may be tempting to tough it out, that’s never a good idea. “Pain is not normal,” says Will Courtenay, PhD, a San Francisco-based psychotherapist. “It’s your body telling you that something is wrong. And it’s not your job to figure it out. That’s what doctors are for.”
- You have digestive issues. The list of GI symptoms guys put up with isn’t exactly pleasant. “Heartburn, bloating, constipation, and diarrhea are commonly experienced by men,” says Roopa Vemulapalli, MD, an internist based in Dallas. “Mild cases can be managed via telehealth,” she explains, “but if heartburn or reflux is getting worse despite changing diet or using over-the-counter antacids, then it is imperative to see your doctor.”
- You don’t feel well. It’s no mystery why many of us try to tough out cold and flu symptoms on our own. Stay home, get some rest, and drink plenty of liquids—that’s what doctors have been telling us since we were kids, right? But in the era of Covid-19, is it a good idea to treat respiratory symptoms with such flippancy? “I’d encourage people who have these kinds of symptoms to message their doctors or use telehealth options,” says Dr. Levy. “In fact, I think this is one of the great cases for telemedicine, like GoodRx Care, because you’re not sitting sick in a waiting room with a bunch of other people.”
GoodRx Care provides quality online consultations for a variety of primary-care services, allowing patients to see a medical professional for a low flat rate, all from the comfort of their own home.
Making that call as soon as you feel symptoms coming on is the best thing you can do. “Many of these issues are caused by viruses,” says Dr. Levy. “And viral illnesses tend to respond best to early treatment. Identifying the virus before it progresses can shorten your duration of symptoms and reduce your risk of getting hospitalized and more serious complications.”
Learn About How You Can Save on Healthcare
When you shop for health insurance, you consider everything from monthly premiums to out-of-pocket costs—but saving on your healthcare shouldn’t stop there.
One thing you should always do is be honest with your doctor about your financial situation, especially if you’re managing a chronic condition. Required treatments, such as prescription medication, can prove costly. Discussing any challenges you’re facing in affording or following a treatment plan is a conversation you should always have with your primary physician; financial limitations should never affect your ability to receive the care you need.
“Is it affordable for you to stay on the medicines that your doctor is prescribing you? You might be a little bit embarrassed to say that you aren’t taking medicines, but again, that’s something your doctors hear all the time. They have ways to help you stay on medicines, they have ways to help make those medicines more affordable,” Dr. Levy says.
“Check GoodRx prices. The cost of a medicine can vary literally hundreds of dollars between different pharmacies. I would encourage you to turn to those resources and talk to your doctors about medication affordability and what it’s going to take to help you stay in good health,” he says.
In addition, you can use GoodRx Health as a resource for other ways to navigate and save on healthcare, with their advice from doctors, pharmacists, and healthcare experts to help you make informed choices. GoodRx Health can also provide information about chronic conditions or medications you are prescribed and what generic alternatives may exist.
GoodRx gives all Americans—regardless of income or insurance status—access to the savings, knowledge, and care they need to stay healthy through its prescription savings, online doctor visits, trusted health information, and other services. Find out how they can help you.
Don’t Ignore Your Mental Health
Men often face pressure to tackle mental health issues on their own, which can make it challenging to seek help or identify symptoms of depression or other mental illnesses. It’s important to note that symptoms of depression can manifest differently in men than in women, adding to the complexity of recognizing and addressing these issues. For instance, men tend to be angry or irritable compared to women who tend to be sad.
“If a man actually tells someone that he’s anxious or depressed, it’s often his doctor,” says Courtenay. “That’s not a bad idea to rule out possible physical [reasons for the mood]. For instance: heart disease is strongly linked to depression.” Once any possible physical issues have been eliminated, it’s time to call in a specialist. “If the doc doesn’t find any physical problems, ask for a referral to a mental health professional,” says Courtenay.
Left untreated, mental health can have huge impacts on your life. It can also lead to harmful coping mechanisms to try and address the underlying issues. “Depression and anxiety can be intertwined with substance abuse,” says Dr. Levy. “That can include drinking too much or binge-drinking. We also see record levels of opiate use. Deaths related to those substances are at all-time highs. So it’s critical that guys address these feelings when they first begin having them instead of trying to cope alone.” By recognizing the signs of depression or having an established healthcare provider will help you take preventative measures in addressing possible mental health illness.
If you’re experiencing thoughts of harming yourself, Dr. Levy emphasizes how important it is to seek help right away. “There are great resources so you can talk to people right now and they can help figure out next steps,” Levy says. In any mental crisis—including suicidal thoughts, but also any kind of issue you’re having a hard time resolving—you can call 9-8-8, the National Suicide and Crisis Line.
This information is for informational purposes only and is not meant to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. GoodRx is not offering advice, recommending or endorsing any specific prescription drug, pharmacy or other information on the site. GoodRx provides no warranty for any information. Please seek medical advice before starting, changing or terminating any medical treatment.
