>My boyfriend had a major spill from his bike during a triathlon a few months ago. Nasty abrasions aside, he also managed to strain a groin muscle alarmingly close to the crown jewels.
No surprises, therefore, that I was one of the most vocal advocators for him to get some medical attention. Tests, MRI, whatever. Spare no expense.
Fortunately, nothing important was hurt and the torn bits have now healed with some rest from training. Not that we would ever know for sure, however, because the stubborn mule neglected to go to the sports doctor for a thorough once-over.
I was aghast. How could he be so blas? about something as important as the crown jewels? Surely I was not being overly hypochondriacal about the incident?
When it comes to medical attention, men truly are from Mars.
If it's not a matter of taking time off work, then it's too much trouble. The idea that they might be putting off a chronic condition or spreading enough germs to start an epidemic simply does not register in their testosterone-addled brains.
Indeed, confront any man and most seem to admit quite readily that it would take a major bug to bite before they would seek medical treatment voluntarily. They are also quite willing to accept the idea that it might be a result of social conditioning.
Boys, after all, are brought up to recognize the virtues of having rude health and a robust constitution. The toughest always rule the sandbox; the snivelling relegated to playing house with the girls. Superman, after all, never suffered sinus problems.
Small wonder that these boys grow up with an ostrich's head-in-the-sand mentality when confronted with ailments and afflictions. Common colds are ignored. Only sicknesses approaching plague proportions are deemed worthy of their attention. Even then, the tendency to treat the offending condition as a challenge to be fought bare-handed is overwhelming.
Health checkup? We'd rather stick our heads in the ground!
In this regard, my father is a prime male example of the species. When I was growing up, there was nary an instance which persuaded him to seek medical help. Pharmaceutically speaking, his closest encounter was of the third-party kind - over-the-counter. And even then, any purchases were made by my mother and practically forced down his throat.
It was only after a routine work-related insurance check-up revealed a 95 percent blockage in one of his arteries that he woke up to the realities of life. Since then, he has had three stents inserted, undergone a triple bypass and been diagnosed with diabetes. Hit by a triple whammy, he has finally come to the realization that a weekly round of golf is not enough and has since run a half-marathon. Curiously, he still refuses to go to the doctor for anything less than a dodgy pacemaker.
The lack of attention men pay their own health has become a matter of serious concern - particularly when it has become an accepted fact that women are now living longer than men. For all that the media trumpets about female-specific conditions and medical authorities promote the need for women's health screening, men need to realize they have their own male-only diseases to guard against.
Aside from the undiscriminating likes of heart disease, strokes, diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and common cancers, men should check out their plumbing on a regular basis as conditions like prostate, penile and testicular cancer can all be cured when caught in the early stages. Vigilance is always a good start and changes in the physical landscape ought to be paid swift attention. Advice should be sought on all lumps, cysts or sores.
It all boils down to common sense, really. Feeling pain? See the doctor. Feeling uncommonly tired? See the doctor. Feeling unusual internal activity? See the doctor. Not feeling anything? See the doctor anyway. Injure yourself really, really close to your crown jewels? See the doctor.
Now.
This story was first published in ThelLivingRoom.sg in Jan 2008.
