(Radio Iowa) – Iowa men are being reminded to drop the “tough guy” act and be preventative about their health. Dr. Will Klein, at Emplify Health by Gundersen, says studies find men between 19 and 65 are much less likely than women to seek preventive health care, and they’re also more likely to report not having a primary care provider. “It’s important for guys to know that it is a lot better to be preventative and trying to get on top of things early,” Klein says. “We’re socialized and grow up with this idea that you should tough it out, or walk it off, if it’s not broke, don’t fix it — all these adages, but you also have to listen to your body.” Aches, pains, skin blotches and anything out of the ordinary shouldn’t be ignored, as Klein says it’s often the case that the sooner it’s found, the better the outcome of treatment.

“You also just need to come in when you’re feeling fine, because that’s how we find out, ‘Hey, you have mildly high blood pressure, and if it’s like this for decades, it’s going to shave years off your life for sure,'” Klein says, “but if we can treat it a lot sooner, it can make a big difference.” It’s vital to see a primary care provider every year, he says, even if you seem a-okay, as those annual physicals may uncover a potential problem that needs immediate attention. “There are some things that you might not really even think about that we’re thinking about when you come in for one of those, from checking your weight, checking your blood pressure,” Klein says “We’re also talking through your family history because depending on, if your dad had colon cancer at 45, that’s going to impact when you need to start getting screened.” Self-diagnosing is another potential landmine, he says, as reading about an ailment on the internet is no substitute for an expert taking a close-up look.

“Catching something early, you’re like, ‘Oh, that’s a mole.’ It’s a little different, but it could be skin cancer,” Klein says. “Sometimes you don’t know. If you’re going to just look at it in Google pictures, it can either make you really scared or it can make you blow off something that shouldn’t be blown off.” Money’s always a concern, but Klein notes most insurance companies cover the cost of preventative care, including annual physicals.

Emplify Health by Gundersen has clinics in Calmar, Decorah, Fayette, Lansing, Postville and Waukon, and a hospital in West Union.