Vim & Vigor - Summer 2012 - Gwinnett Medical Center - (Page 45)

Game plan : It’s easier for a guy to avoid a problem if he doesn’t talk about it, says Life, adding, “I think that’s definitely part of a male psyche—they’d rather not know. It’s a tragic way of thinking.” A physician will ask how often you smoke, drink, eat vegetables and exercise, and about your family’s medical history. Simply starting this conversation usually can help you identify positive goals. This leads to action, and action leads to empowerment. That’s something even the strong, silent type can appreciate. Steven Jonas, M.D., co-author of Help Your Man Get Healthy, says he experiences this when managing his own health. When he suffers running injuries, the simple act of calling a doctor makes him feel better because he knows recovery is in sight: “I call it therapeutic appointment making.” Communication Tips We want our dads and husbands to live long lives. But it can be hard to bring up their health without sounding like a nag. The following are a few communication tips: 1. Set a good example. It’s easier to ask your partner to go to the doctor when you go yourself. Pick a time of the year to make appointments for the whole family. 2. Do some research. It helps when a conversation is based on facts. If the man is not clicking on health articles online and reading up, the woman can do that and share in conversation what she has read. 3. Pick the right time and place. You should both be relaxed, not angry about something that happened that morning. Choose a time when you’re both feeling good and content. 4. Stay positive. Focus on the benefits of a lifestyle change. For example, “I feel really energized when I go running. I think you would, too” will be more successful than “you’re a lazy couch potato.” 5. Curb your frustration. Sometimes you see someone who shouldn’t be reaching for a second helping of dessert, and it’s hard. For women it can be frustrating. If you feel a snide comment is coming out, you have to try to rein that in. ExcusE: “exams are so uncomfortable” No one enjoys disrobing to be poked and prodded by a near-stranger. Plus, men are encouraged to get prostate exams and colonoscopies at 50, and that sounds unpleasant. Game plan : One of the most important things a man can do is find a general practitioner whom he trusts and feels comfortable with. This will put him at ease and might lead to better medical results. “Prostate cancer is one of the most common cancers in men,” Jonas says. A rectal exam at your checkup can help find this disease, and detecting cancer early is key to survival. Advances in medical equipment have made colonoscopies much more comfortable than they used to be as well, Jonas adds. It’s important to talk with your doctor about when and how often to get screened, because timing can vary. And if something does make you uncomfortable, talk to your doctor about your concerns. online To find a primary care physician near you, visit gwinnettmedicalcenter.org/physician. Need a Doctor for Dad? Look No Further Than GMC Vim & Vigor • Sum mer 2012 45 http://www.gwinnettmedicalcenter.org/physician

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Vim & Vigor - Summer 2012 - Gwinnett Medical Center

Vim & Vigor - Summer 2012 - Gwinnett Medical Center
Contents
Phil’s Feature
Good as New
With Open Hearts
The Breakfast Club
Arthritis Answers
A TV Guide to Radiology
Take Aim
It Might NOT Be Cancer
Colin Firth
Step Up to the Plate
Life After Cancer
Get Dad to the Doc
Virtual Health
PrimeTime Health
Half the Man He Was
Have a Happy Birth Day
Out of the White Coat
Transforming Healthcare

Vim & Vigor - Summer 2012 - Gwinnett Medical Center