Men Care More About Cars than Health

A recent study found that men spend time caring for their cars than their own health. The study surveyed 501 men ages 45 to 65 and 501 of their spouses or significant others to see just how proactive men are when it comes to dealing with health matters. Nearly 70% of the men surveyed take better care of their cars than themselves. The unfortunate result of this is that some men may be ignoring symptoms of treatable health conditions and don’t visit their doctors sometimes for as long as six months to a year after experiencing disease symptoms.

The study attributes the mindset to societal values that condition boys to 'tough it out' in the face of injury. This leads many men to ignore warning signs of potentially treatable illnesses if caught early. To use a car analogy, you wouldn't wait for your engine to fall out before you changed your oil, yet many men will let their health deteriorate to the point of almost no return. Unfortunately, we live in a country with a heath care system that values treatment over prevention. While illnesses like high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and prostate problems are all treatable if found early, they are also preventable.

In order to prevent them, it requires us men to be proactive with regards to our health. To quote Dr. Oz, "Know your numbers!" Know and manage your blood pressure and cholesterol levels. Additionally, working out and staying active not only allows you to maintain healthy weight but also helps you manage stress. Get your prostate and testosterone levels checked regularly after the age of 40.

I have a wonderful wife and two amazing kids that I want to see graduate from college. I want to walk my daughter down the aisle at her wedding. I also want to live my golden years travelling the world with my wife. I admit to spending time caring for my car, but I make a point to spend more time caring for my health. We men have got to do better.