SIOUX FALLS, SD (KELO.com) — June is Men’s Health Month, and some providers are still trying to convince more men to make room for wellness visits on their schedules.

A South Dakota doctor says ignoring things could eventually land you more frequently in a medical setting.

Mark Beard, family medicine and men’s health specialist for Sanford Health, said men typically start avoiding doctor visits after their teenage years, when they no longer need physical exams for activities such as team sports. Instead, he said, they should agree to have regular meetings with their supplier. This way, they will feel comfortable discussing minor issues that can snowball into larger issues.

“Whether it’s a concerning joint, or maybe they have a bit of chest tightness or chest pain – and they end up having a heart attack,” he said. he says, “or, maybe they have a little headache or numbness and they miss the early signs of a stroke.

In a survey last year by Aflac, 45% of men said they had not seen a family doctor or GP for an annual health check or wellness visit. Another 84% said they had not followed up with a provider for a specific injury.

Thanks to social media and television commercials, many products focus on increasing testosterone. However, Beard suggested that these supplements shouldn’t be the only things motivating men to improve their health.

“Just because you’re tired, or don’t have the build or look you had when you were a teenager or young adult, doesn’t necessarily mean that’s the cause of all your problems,” he said. he declared. .

He said regular visits can help catch issues that could be wearing you down. Beard added that weight-loss medications and other supplements aren’t a substitute for establishing a healthy lifestyle plan that focuses on better eating and regular physical activity — plans that can be made in conversations with your doctor.

(Mike Moen, GDNS, contributed to this report.)