Allen Powell of Columbia, is 46 and admits the fear of not getting a job made him go to the doctor.
"I first went to the doctor when I about stroked out. Outside of that you know I just ignored it. And to be honest with you, I don't believe I would have went then, if it hadn't been for a job because I couldn't pass the physical until I got that blood pressure down." said Powell.
Powell has problems with his eye sight because he wasn't treated sooner. Calvin Walls of Charleston has high blood
pressure, takes his meds, but says he doesn't go as often as he should.
"Well, with me, just I guess afraid of that bad news you know. I really don't know why we don't we should." said Walls.
The Men's Health Network, reports men live sicker and die on average five years younger than women. The three leading causes of death are heart disease, cancer and injuries. Dr. Marino Bruce is with the Myrlie Evers Williams Institute for the Elimination of Health Disparities. He says men feel vulnerable.
"In our culture, disease or chronic conditions are seen as being weak among men. When in fact, it's reality. We all have things we have to pay attention to." said Bruce.
At the University of Mississippi Medical Center, Dr. Zeb Henson estimates fifty-five percent of his patients are men and he rarely sees one under 40 for a physical who's in good health. He says men can have high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, colon or prostate cancer and feel fine.
"The way I explain it to patients is even when you feel fine. There's damage being done to the inside of your body and it's that damage we need to stop." said Henson.
Dr. Marino Bruce says Caucasian men are less likely to have a primary care physician and the number drops for African American and Latino males. He added eating healthy, exercise and access to care are critical. June is Men's Health Awareness Month.
