Greenwich Hospital Physicians Urge Men to Take Charge of Their Health

Driven by societal pressures to “be tough,” men are less likely to seek medical attention if they are experiencing symptoms and when they do finally see a doctor, their disease is often more serious, said Franklin Loria, MD, an internist with Greenwich Hospital.

“Men are told to ‘suck it up’ and ‘be tough.’ It usually takes a crisis – their father died or a friend was diagnosed with cancer – to get them to see a doctor,” said Loria.

Loria was among a panel of speakers at a free “Men’s Wellness” lecture held at Greenwich Hospital this week as part of “Movember Mondays,” which aims to draw attention to men’s health issues. Joining Loria were James Rosoff, MD, an urologist, and Richard Becker, a cardiac rehabilitation specialist.

The experts encouraged men to take charge of their health by getting a primary care physician, eating a plant-based diet, exercising, keeping up to date with vaccinations and screenings, and being aware of their blood pressure and cholesterol levels.

Compared to women, men are more likely to participate in high-risk behaviors, smoke and use tobacco, and drink in excess, said Loria. They’re also less likely to report signs and symptoms of depression.

Women typically outlive men by about five years – 81 years for women compared to 76 years for men. But the gap has narrowed in recent years. “It’s not that men are getting healthier,” said Loria. “Women are getting sicker.”

Staying socially connected – something women are more adept at doing – also impacts physical health. Loria cited one study that showed having a social network lowered your chances of dying by 50 percent compared to those who had fewer social ties.

“Fortunately, we can take steps to improve our health,” he said. “It’s all about the decisions we make.

Greenwich Hospital is a member of Yale New Haven Health. Greenwich is a 206-bed (includes 32 isolettes) community hospital serving lower Fairfield County, Connecticut and Westchester County, New York. It is a academic affiliate of Yale School of Medicine. Since opening in 1903, Greenwich Hospital has evolved into a progressive medical center and teaching institution representing all medical specialties and offering a wide range of medical, surgical, diagnostic and wellness programs. Greenwich Hospital is recognized throughout the healthcare industry as a leader in service and patient satisfaction excellence. Greenwich Hospital has the prestigious Magnet designation from the American Nurses Credentialing Center, the nation’s highest honor of nursing excellence. www.greenwichhospital.org