NATIONAL MEN'S HEALTH WEEK
SURVEY
The Doctor: To Go or Not To Go? Is This Self-Care Run Amuck?
Sure, most Americans would go to the doctor for really serious complaints like
blurred vision or chest pain. But what is really amazing are the large numbers of people
who would’t go even in the face of these dire circumstances. And among
those who would go, many would’t go right away, opting instead to wait a day or two
to see if things got better on their own.
Men are the worst. Regardless of whether the complaint is as minor as a headache or as
serious as a heart attack, men are significantly less likely than women to say they would
go to the doctor.
Only 75 percent of the nation’s adults would go to the doctor if they
experienced chest pain, and fully one in every five (20%) would wait a day
or two first.
- Men are less likely then women to go to the doctor at all for chest
pain (66% vs. 83%).
Only 70 percent say they would go to the doctor if they experienced another sure sign
of heart trouble, shortness of breath. Worse, more than one in four (28%) say they would
wait a day or two before going.
- Men are less likely than women to say they would go to the doctor at
all for shortness of breath (63% vs. 77%).
Eighty-two percent of all adults would go to the doctor if they experienced blurred
vision, but 37% would wait a day or two first.
- Men are less likely than women to say they’d go to the doctor
for this reason
(78% vs. 86%).
Seventy-six percent would go to the doctor for a serious cut or burn, and fortunately,
only 16 percent would wait a day or two first.
Even when it comes down to something as central to a man’s identity as erectile
dysfunction, fully 27 percent of men would not go to the doctor , and fully 44
percent would wait a day or two first.
Going To The Doctor When Faced With
Specific Medical Symptoms
| |
Would
Go To The Doctor |
How
They Go |
Symptom |
Total
% |
Men
% |
Women
% |
Go Right Away
% |
Wait a Day or
Two First
% |
Blurred
Vision |
82 |
78 |
86 |
45 |
37 |
| Serious cuts or
burns |
76 |
75 |
78 |
60 |
16 |
| Chest pain or
discomfort |
75 |
66 |
83 |
55 |
20 |
| Shortness of
breath |
70 |
63 |
77 |
41 |
28 |
| Frequent need
to urinate |
60 |
55 |
65 |
20 |
40 |
| Erectile
dysfunction (Men) |
73 |
73 |
N/A |
29 |
44 |
| Back Pain |
33 |
32 |
33 |
5 |
27 |
| Headaches |
24 |
20 |
28 |
3 |
20 |
| Cold or the flu |
22 |
20 |
24 |
5 |
17 |
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[Complete Survey]
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