Dear friends,
Ladies, let’s talk. In your household, you’re probably the appointment-makers, the gentle nudgers, and the health whisperers when it comes to healthcare for your family. You’ve likely done it all at one point or another: scheduled your dad’s colonoscopy, convinced your husband to get that blood pressure checked, and made sure your teenage son didn’t “forget” his physical.
Skipping routine care isn’t a badge of honor, it’s a gamble. Even the strongest people can get blindsided by illness. You’ve got one life and one body. Don’t sideline yourself by ignoring the basics.
June is Men’s Health Month, a national reminder that our partners, fathers, sons, brothers, and friends deserve to thrive, not just survive. It’s also a call to action for all of us who love them to encourage the kind of preventive care that saves lives.
Whether you’re a wife, mother, daughter, sister, or best friend, your quiet persistence helps keep the men in your life upright and ticking. And guess what? That matters.
But gentlemen, if you’re reading this yourself, this one’s also for you. Whether you’ve got someone looking out for you or not, your health is your business. I mean that literally and figuratively. Because here’s the thing, skipping routine care isn’t a badge of honor. It’s a gamble, except not a particularly smart one.
Let’s pull back the curtain on why men avoid preventive care. You may hear things like:
-
“I’m fine.”
-
“I don’t have time.”
-
“What if something is wrong?”
-
“It’s too expensive.”
-
“I don’t even have a doctor.”
Does this sound familiar? It should. According to a 2019 Cleveland Clinic survey, 65% of men said they tend to wait as long as possible before seeing a doctor when they have health symptoms or an injury. And only three in five men (61%) reported going to the doctor for a routine check-up, which means that nearly 40% aren’t getting the regular preventive care that they need.
Why are some men hesitating? Many of them were raised to believe that toughness means ignoring pain, and that vulnerability – like talking about your health – is somehow unmanly. But believe me when I say, that’s not bravery, it’s risky business. That mindset is costing lives.
The truth is, even the strongest people can get blindsided by illness. Heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, and cancer often move quietly, until they don’t. You don’t have to feel sick to need care.
Ladies, if there’s a man in your life who you care about, you might be the person who helps him cross that invisible line between “I’m fine” and “Let me get this checked out.” Here are three things you can do:
Start the conversation—without judgment.
Say something like, “I care about you, and I just want to make sure you’re around for the long haul. When was your last check-up?”Offer to help him find a provider.
Research shows that men, particularly those who are single, are less likely to have a regular doctor. Sometimes the hardest part is just getting started. Help him explore options, schedule the appointment together, or simply sit with him while he makes the call.Normalize it.
Let him know he’s not alone. Share real stories of men you know, or even celebrities who have taken control of their health and are better for it. Take Today Show weatherman Al Roker, who was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2020 during a routine check-up. Thanks to early detection, he underwent successful surgery and has since become an advocate for regular screenings, especially among Black men who are at a higher risk. Roker has said, “If you detect it early, this is a really treatable disease.” His openness serves as a powerful reminder that proactive health measures can be life-saving.
Gentlemen, whether someone encouraged you to read this, or you’re here because you’re ready to show up for yourself, here’s a crash course in taking charge of your own health:
Get an annual physical. Even if you feel fine, and especially if you feel fine.
Know your numbers. Track your blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar.
Get screened. For colon cancer, prostate health, and heart disease, early detection is everything.
Vaccines aren’t just for kids. Stay current. It’s preventative maintenance.
Move your body and feed it well. Yes, that counts too.
If you don’t have insurance or a regular doctor, many clinics offer affordable preventive care. Ask around or look online. Your health is worth navigating a few logistics.
The bottom line is that health isn’t a luxury or a chore, but the foundation of everything else you love. For the women reading this, keep speaking up; your voice carries. For the men, please don’t wait for a crisis to start before caring about your body.
You’ve got one life and one body. Don’t sideline yourself by ignoring the basics. So go ahead, make that appointment. Or nudge someone who needs to.
What’s one small step you or someone you love can take this week toward better health? I’d love to hear from you in the comments below. You never know who your story might inspire.
With your health in mind,
