Many men only seek health care in a crisis, possibly because society teaches them from a young age to be strong and independent and not to ask for help. But the best way to stay healthy is to visit your doctor regularly, so you can watch for—and even prevent—the following issues:
 

• Colorectal and prostate cancers, which often show no symptoms in the early stages
• High cholesterol and high blood pressure, which can lead to heart disease or stroke
• Lung cancer, which develops over a period of years and is mainly caused by smoking
• Diabetes, a lifelong disease that is treatable but often leads to other serious health problems

 
There are ways to check for all of these conditions. The first step is to talk to your doctor. So if you haven’t seen one in a while, set up a visit with your primary care doctor. Ask which health screenings are right for you, and find out what your risk factors are.
 
Men’s Health Week is observed right before Father’s Day to remind men how important it is to take care of their health. Getting yearly checkups with your doctor is the perfect way to do just that.