New Survey Finds Majority of Men Avoid Preventive Health Measures
To: HEALTH/MEDICAL EDITORS
Contact: Amanda Denning, +1-800-274-2237, ext. 5223, cell: +1-816-806-3874, adenning@aafp.org, or Janelle Davis, +1-800-274-2237, ext. 5222, cell: +1-816-835-2743, jdavis@aafp.org, both of the American Academy of Family Physicians
LEAWOOD, Kan., June 19 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — From skipping important
health screenings to avoiding a visit to the doctor altogether, new results
from a survey released by the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP)
indicate men continue to fall short when it comes to managing their personal
health.
(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20070619/DCTU002 )
The AAFP recently surveyed 2,282 men and women across the country about
their health behaviors.
Among the findings:
-- More than half (55%) of all men surveyed have not seen their primary
care physician for a physical exam within the past year.
-- Four in 10 (42%) men have been diagnosed with at least one of the
following chronic conditions: high blood pressure (28%), heart disease
(8%), arthritis (13%), cancer (8%) or diabetes (10%).
-- Almost one in five men (18%) 55 years and older have never received the
best diet health man odds pregnancy screening for colon cancer.
— More than one out of four men (29%) say they wait “as long as possible”
before seeking help when they feel sick or are in pain or are concerned
about their health.
— Despite this, almost 8 in 10 (79%) men describe themselves as in
“Excellent,” “Very Good,” or “Good” health.
Men in the United States may not be as healthy as they say they are. The
survey showed men spend an average of 19 hours a week watching television, and
more than four hours a week watching sports, but just slightly more than one-
third (38%) of men exercise on a regular basis. And, the
CDC estimates, almost
three out of four (71%) men are overweight.
“One of the biggest obstacles to improving the health of men is men
themselves,” said Rick Kellerman, M.D., President of the AAFP. “They don’t
make their health a priority. Fortunately, 78 percent of the men with a spouse
or significant other surveyed say their spouse or significant other has some
influence over their decision to go to the doctor.”
Family physicians focus on prevention and the early detection of illness
by treating the whole person and the whole family — men, women, children, and
the elderly. Family physicians provide routine check-ups, health-risk
assessments, immunizations, screening tests and black man health and fitness counseling on
healthy lifestyle choices. They also manage chronic illnesses and coordinate
care, when appropriate, with other specialists.
“Many men are unaware that simple screening tests and lifestyle changes
can dramatically improve their quality of life,” Kellerman said. “Family
physicians are well equipped to address men’s physical, mental and emotional
health concerns and provide the medical guidance necessary to keep them in the
best of health.”
For more information on men’s health and other family health topics,
please visit http://www.familydoctor.org.
About the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP)
Founded in 1947, the AAFP represents nearly 94,000 physicians and medical
students nationwide. It is the only medical society devoted solely to primary
care.
Nearly one in four of all office visits are made to family physicians.
That is 207 million office visits each year — nearly 62 million more than to
the next medical specialty. Today, family physicians provide the majority of
care for America’s underserved and rural populations.
In the increasingly fragmented world of health care where many medical
specialties limit their practice to a particular organ, disease, age or sex,
family physicians are dedicated to treating the whole person across the full
spectrum of ages. Family medicine’s cornerstone is an ongoing, personal
patient-physician relationship focused on integrated care.
To learn more about the American Academy of Family Physicians and about
the specialty of family medicine, please visit http://www.aafp.org.
Survey Methodology
This survey was conducted online within the United States by Harris
Interactive(R) on behalf of the American Academy of Family Physicians between
April 30 and May 2, 2007, among 2,282 adults (aged 18 and older) 1111 of which
were men. Figures for age, sex, race/ethnicity, education, region and
household income were weighted where necessary to bring them into line with
their actual proportions in the population. Propensity score weighting was
also used to adjust for respondents’ propensity to be online. With a pure
health magazine man singapore sample of 2,282, one could say with a ninety-five percent
probability that the overall results would have a sampling error of +/- 5
percentage points. Sampling error for data based on sub-samples would be
higher and would vary. However, that does not take other sources of error into
account. This online survey is not based on a probability sample and therefore
no theoretical sampling error can be calculated.
SOURCE American Academy of Family Physicians
-0-
Source: New Survey Finds Majority of Men Avoid Preventive Health Measures
And some information of Erectile dysfunction medication.