For many men, it can take a near emergency to prompt a trip to the doctor. In fact, men are a third less likely than women to schedule routine preventive care exams and screenings (1). Some wait until health symptoms are persistent before seeking medical care. Others may feel uncomfortable during a regular checkup, fear an unpleasant diagnosis or think they are simply too busy. It’s important to make time for health, wellness and self-care—even if you feel healthy.
Two of the most common health risks facing American men today are heart disease and depression. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly one in 13 adult men are living with heart disease, and approximately one in 10 men feel some depression or anxiety every day (2).
Men can take charge of their health through preventive and proactive measures. Here are four ways to get started.
Schedule Check-ups, Screenings and Immunizations
Regular screenings for blood pressure, healthy weight and overall health may help men catch health problems early on, when they are most treatable. Read the 2019 Sutter Health Plus health maintenance guidelines brochure, Partnering for Your Best Health, for the latest immunization, health and screening recommendations by age group, and specific recommendations for men. Sutter Health Plus covers a variety of preventive care services at no out-of-pocket cost.
Find Mental Health Balance
Caring for mental health is just as important as caring for physical health. The stress of everyday life—relationships, school or the workplace—can lead to depression or anxiety. It’s important to know Sutter Health Plus members have resources to help. Members can visit liveandworkwell.com to find a mental health provider, schedule a confidential in-person or virtual session, and access a wide variety of tools and articles for improving mental wellness through U.S. Behavioral Health Plan, California (USBHPC).
Participate in Health and Wellness Programs
Smoking, high cholesterol and high blood pressure can increase the risk of heart disease, the leading cause of death for men nationwide (3). Members can access no-cost, one-on-one wellness coaching for tobacco cessation beginning with a simple 20-minute phone call. Additionally, members can enroll in the Sutter Health Telephonic Disease Management (TDM) Program to help manage chronic conditions like high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes and asthma. Learn more at sutterhealthplus.org/wellness.
Access Online Health and Wellness Resources
For self-starters, members can access the Health and Wellness website through the Member Portal to take a Personal Health Assessment aimed at improving health and lifestyle behaviors. This site also features learning centers, a video library and 12 Action Plan modules to help guide progress toward health goals. With hundreds of topics to explore—from men’s health to prostate cancer—members have access to a breadth of information.
Get started today! Sutter Health Plus members can make an appointment with their primary care provider or visit any of the Sutter Walk-In Care locations for everyday care—with or without an appointment—after work or on weekends, when it’s convenient. Sutter Walk-In Care clinics are open daily from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., and most holidays from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Find the nearest location by visiting sutterhealthplus.org/walk-in.
1 New Study Profiles Women’s Use of Health Care, cdc.gov
2 Heart Health and Depression: What Men Need to Know, cdc.gov
3 Men and Heart Disease, cdc.gov
