Q: My husband is very reluctant to ever go to the doctor. He is 45 years old and I think it is time he went to get an annual checkup from our doctor. Do you have any suggestions about how I can get him to go? He keeps making excuses such as “I don’t have time” or “there is nothing wrong with me.”
A: It is true that men seem more reluctant to see a doctor than women. Some are frightened of needles and blood tests, while others are not comfortable with aspects of the physical examination such as digital rectal testing.
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Because of the homosexual implications of having another male touching the body in intimate places, some men may actually prefer to see a woman doctor. You should try to find out what bothers your husband about the procedure. It may help to simply find him a female physician.
In general, women are much more at ease in the doctor’s office because they have been there more often for annual Pap tests and internal examinations. If they have had babies, they have also been exposed to undignified procedures and will tend to lose any embarrassment after a while.
They are also more familiar with pain, from menstruation and childbirth. It is also more important from a medical point of view for women to have physicals every 12 or 24 months because of the risks of cervical and breast cancer that do not affect men.
For men, the main health risks are lung cancer, prostate cancer, colon cancer and undetected high blood pressure. The latter can lead to heart attacks or strokes. Most of the time, there are no symptoms of these diseases until they are in late and perhaps untreatable stages.
At the age of 45, if your husband seems healthy, it is not so critical that he have an annual physical, unless he is of African origin or has a family history of prostate cancer. Over age 50, he should definitely go and get one. He should at least get his blood pressure checked at one of the pharmacies that have the machines. They are not quite as accurate as the ones in the doctor’s office, but it will give him a rough idea.
You might also be able to trick him into seeing your doctor if you book an appointment for yourself and ask him to come along. See the doctor first and explain the situation. Ask the doctor to come out to the waiting room and suggest to your husband that he come in and get a checkup.
Hopefully, your husband will co-operate at this point. Make sure you book a long enough time slot for a full physical, at least half an hour.
Health Canada is reminding parents that it is important to be aware of allergies when packing school lunches. Children often trade or give away parts of their lunch to other kids. I have just found out that my grandkids never eat their sandwiches, just the snacks. They give the sandwiches away or throw them in the garbage can. Their mother was quite unaware of this.
Peanuts, tree nuts, sesame, soy, seafood, wheat, eggs and milk are the most common food allergens. Many elementary schools are now restricting certain foods from student lunches. Parents are encouraged to follow school policies, even if their child is not allergic. To find out which foods, if any, are restricted in their children’s schools, parents should contact the school directly. Food allergies can be life threatening and are becoming increasingly common.
For more information, visit the Health Canada website at www.hc-sc.gc.ca.
Clare Rowson is a retired medical doctor with a practice near Belleville, Ont. Her columns are intended for general information only. Individuals are encouraged to also seek the advice of their own doctor regarding medical questions and treatments.
