“Ain’t nothing wrong with me.” Most of us have heard this from one of the men in our lives. They just don’t want to go to the doctor despite the pain they feel. Maybe in the area of love women should think like a man, but in this area men need to think more like women.
It’s so important for our men to take care of themselves. As the head of households and the back bone to our communities, women depend on men a great deal. Though our society has sometimes made men feel invalid, the fact is God created men and women for relationships with one another. Too often black women are left living lives as widows because their husbands are dying years before them from health related issues.
According to Dr. Derek Griffith, assistant professor at the University of Michigan’s School of Public Health, African-American men die an average of seven years earlier than men of other ethnic groups, and are more likely to suffer from undiagnosed chronic illnesses.
So why don’t black men go to the doctor? Some blame the Tuskegee experiment and other instances where black men were used as guinea pigs. Supposedly this has created a stigma of distrust for doctors amongst black men.
A study done by Griffith discovered that it’s not so much that black men don’t want to go to the doctor just because they don’t want to go, rather it is the fact that they have bad experiences when they do go to the doctor. The men that participated in the study said that they were often made to feel less than and were talked down to by doctors.
Other studies show that black men do in fact have an issue with trust as it relates to physicians. In a study done by the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, “men who reported being highly mistrustful of the medical system were more than twice as likely to delay routine check-ups and cholesterol screenings and three times more likely to delay having their blood pressure checked by a physician or health-care professional than men who were less mistrustful.”
Regardless of the reason as to why black men are not going, we have to find ways to encourage and motivate them to go. Here are some suggestions:
- Have a family doctor day, this way the man has the support of his family.
- Ask his best friend to go to the doctor with him.
- Find local health fairs that offer free screenings. This way the man in your life won’t feel threatened by the thought of going to a doctor’s office.
- Schedule the appointment for him. Sometimes they want to see about themselves but the fear of the unknown keeps them from even taking the first step.
- Tell him how much his health means to you and schedule a day out that includes a doctor’s visit, lunch and something he will enjoy (maybe a sporting event).
Our men are dying and this is really a topic that we can no longer ignore. It’s not funny and it’s not cute. Let’s reclaim our health and help our men do the same!
Sources:
Bailey, L. Study: African American men say doctor visits are often a bad experience. University of Michigan, 26 Jan 2011.
Lane, P. Mistrust keeps black men from doctor. Futurity.org. 12 Jan 2011.
I am a Blackman, and I know the history of all the cruelties that has happen to the so-called African American. Yes what happen to the brothers with the Tuskegee experiment was beyond cruel. But, that should not stop you and me from seeing a Doctor. We have to find a way to build relationship with people of other ethnic backgrounds without compromising who we are. I am a Fitness Expert, and I have noticed that it is far less so-called African American men and women working out in the gym then any other ethnic group. So I can believe that so-called African American men do not have a life span as long as other ethnic groups of men. It all comes down to one word. Knowledge! That’s right, knowledge is power. So we must know so we don’t live on the ledge or the edge of life playing Russian roulette with our health. So brothers, go to the Doctor and get your health checked out, so you can compete to live and teach our children. We need to just be better then we are now.
Peace and Good Health!
I am a Blackman, and I know the history of all the cruelties that has happen to the so-called African American. Yes what happen to the brothers with the Tuskegee experiment was beyond cruel. But,that should not stop you and I from seeing a Doctor. We have to find a way to bulid relationship with people of other ethnic background without compromising who we are. I am a Fitness Expert, and I have noticed that it is far more less so-called African American men and women working out in the gym then any other ethnic group. So I can believe that so-called African American men does not have a life span as others. It all comes down to one word. Knowledge! That’s right, knowledge is power. So we must know so we don’t live on the ledge or the edge of life playing russian roulette with our health. So broth
Peace!
I love a Black man, and I am the daughter of a Black man who died an early death of congestive heart failure and hypertension. My dad hated to go to the doctor, and I’ll tell you that if he had taken better care of his health he would not be gone so soon.
If you can’t do it for yourself, do it for the people who love you, who want you around for a long, long time. Don’t allow your mistrust of the medical establishment keep you from seeing your doctor regularly even if you do, “feel fine.”
You have the opportunity to change the way things are and set a new example for your sons and nephews to follow. Going to the doctor doesn’t make you weak it reveals your strength and your sense of responsibility to those who love you.
A strong, healthy Black man is a beautiful thing, indeed.
My advice brothers, grow up, act like a man, but behave like a woman (who is on top of her own health) and go to the doctor!
I am an African American man too. As a fitness trainer and physical therapist I know the importance of doctor checkups, exercise and good nutrition.
I think most men of color are “afraid” of what they might be told and of the changes that might have to come along with what they are told. A change in lifestyle can be damaging to our ego and how we are able to associate with or how we are seen by our friends. Dig deep, I think that’s what we’ll find beneath the excuses of the Tuskegee experiment and the distrust of the doctors. To add to that ego theory, in the gym, how often do your hear or see men of color on the treadmill for more than a 5-10 minute warm-up before going to the bech press or preacher curl? Not often! Our decisions are often based on the tangible or what we can see (when posing) in the mirror.
The point is two-fold, 1) when it comes to men of color and our decisions, i think most of it is ego, not what is rational or what makes sense. And 2) perhaps because it is not masculine enough, cardiovascular activities are skipped by men of color. Adding cardiovascular activities to a workout program can significantly reduce those conditions and diseases that take us out before our due time.
What ever the reason may be, black men should take care of themselves by getting their yearly physicals. This is empowering yourselves.
As African American men, in order to value our health, we must first value ourselves. We must understand how priceless we are to ourselves and the people in our lives. Once you recognize your self worth, you then desire to educate yourself on life, health, love and all the things that make being healthy, fit and alive a beautiful thing. Your ego is not your amigo! Take control of yourself and don’t let self take control of you. Seek knowledge and wisdom and others will find that you are not easily deceived by their opinions or diagnosis. It’s ok for us to fear the unknown but it’s not ok for us to be consumed and limited by the fear of the unknown. So step up my brothers! Do what is necessary to get your mind, body and spirit healthy. We are needed as strong and healthy fathers, husbands, uncles, brothers and friends, just as much now as ever!
Peace and Balance!