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accessHealthNews.net
June 2025
Volume 11 | Issue No. 97
Over the years, Tyler Waldorf has avoided
scheduling routine doctors' visits. The
reasons have shifted—from fear to
frustration to inconvenience—but the habit
of postponing care has remained. For many
men, avoidance isn't just a personal quirk.
It's part of a broader trend rooted in cultural
norms, limited health literacy, and health
systems not built to engage them early.
"I don't make it a priority," says Waldorf, a
Kansas City-based consultant and artist. "I
just keep putting it off."
Waldorf isn't alone. The data paint a
troubling picture: Men in the U.S. die nearly
six years earlier than women, on average,
largely due to preventable or manageable
conditions. Yet many still avoid care until
something is wrong.
The consequences of skipping routine
health care include:
Cardiovascular disease: Men are nearly
50% more likely to die of heart disease
than women, according to the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention.
Cancer: The American Cancer Society
estimates that one in two men will develop
cancer in their lifetime, compared to
one in three women. The most common
cancer types in men include prostate, lung,
colorectal, bladder, and melanoma.
Suicide: Men are four times more likely than
women to die by suicide, according to the
National Institute of Mental Health—yet
they're significantly less likely to seek help
for mental health concerns.
Like many men, Waldorf's early avoidance
of health care was rooted in a sense of
invincibility.
READ MORE
"We blame the user because we don't want to take a
look at the systems that are creating barriers."
- Dr. Manuel Solano,
Director of Behavioral Health at
Samuel U. Rodgers Health Center
