Men, it’s time to lead by example. Caring for your family starts with caring for yourself.
Primary Care
It’s important for YOU to take time and care for yourself. Ignoring and suffering through symptoms impacts your work, home and social life. Visiting with your primary care provider and scheduling your annual adult wellness visit keeps your health on track. At your wellness visit your provider will:
- Review your overall physical, social and emotional health.
- Ensure you are up to date on vaccines.
- Check blood pressure.
- Address any concerns you have with your health.
- Conduct routine screenings.
Find a provider for your family or location near you.
Health screening
Delaying health screenings could have a serious impact on your health and your everyday life. Screenings are incredibly important for early detection and treatment of a condition. Skipping your screening can have an immediate impact on your family and friends if the condition goes unnoticed. The sooner it is detected and treated, the better the outcomes.
Make sure you’re up to date on these important routine screenings:
- Colonoscopy, beginning at age 45
- Prostate screening, beginning at age 50
- Diabetes screening
Schedule your health screenings or find a location near you.
Urology: Urology deals with male reproductive organs. Conditions like low testosterone, enlarged prostate, bladder issues and prostate cancer are treated by urologists. While there is no exact age when men can begin experiencing signs of problems around 50 years old is when most symptoms are first noticed. Talk with your MercyOne provider to learn more or find a urologist near you.
Behavioral and mental health
Nearly 1 in 10 men experience depression or anxiety. It can be difficult to differ when these symptoms are related to circumstances and will get better with time, or if they are clinically significant. Oftentimes people try to make changes in their personal lives before seeking treatment. Behavioral health can impact you brain, causing:
- Poor concentration.
- Low energy.
- Difficulty making decisions and solving problems.
- Mood changes.
- Lack of enjoyment.
- Anxiety.
When it's not an emergency, talk with your primary care provider about treatment. Just as your provider may prescribe medication for high blood pressure, they may prescribe medication for your behavioral health. Most antidepressant and anti-anxiety medications are prescribed by primary care providers, and if they think you would benefit from seeing a specialist, they refer you appropriately.
Resources for behavioral health
Sometimes behavioral health problems can make things seem hopeless that result in severe symptoms like panic attacks and suicidal thoughts. Suicide is more common in men than in women, especially for those 65 or older. Suicide is ranked the ninth cause of death in Iowa. Caring for your mental health is about getting your brain functioning as best as it can so that you can be there for your friends and family.
Find a behavioral health expert near you.
If you or someone you know is considering suicide, here are some 24/7 confidential help lines:
- Your Life Iowa— call 855-581-8111 or text 855-895-8398
- Suicide Prevention Hotline – 988
(En Español – 1-888-628-9454)
- The Trevor Project (LGBTQ+ Crisis and Suicide Hotline) – 866-488-7386
- Veterans Crisis Line – 1-800-273-8255
- Farm Aid Support Line: 800-Farm-Aid (327-6243)
