Finnish men often ignore warning signs and avoid medical attention
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By Vuokko Pentzin
Real men never get sick, or if they do, they never complain. And they certainly never go to a doctor!
What’s wrong with these guys?
The use of health services has been studied by the Social Insurance institution (KELA) in extensive population surveys since the 1960s. During all of this time, men have availed themselves of all health care services less than women have.
Finnish men also take less prescription medicines and over-the-counter drugs than women do.
Two out of three women in Finland see their dentists regularly, but only half of men do. The gender difference is even apparent in the consumption of vitamin supplements.
“Although attitudes of men have improved, there still is a tendency to put off visiting the doctor. Men downplay their symptoms, and surprisingly many of those who are well educated have the view that it doesn’t matter so much even if they die a bit earlier”, says professor Antero Kesäniemi of the Oulu University Hospital.
Kesäniemi notes that men do not easily understand that if they neglect the prevention and treatment of coronary heart disease, for instance, the most serious consequence is not how much it shortens their lives, but rather how badly the disease might disable them for the rest of their lives.
“We overestimate the level of awareness among the population. People do not know about diseases and their symptoms as much as we doctors think they do”, says Kesäniemi, an experienced expert on internal medicine.
A terrible fear has been imposed on men - fear that they might visit a doctor for no good reason.
“For instance, if heart symptoms emerge, they will just stay on the sofa and rest, instead of immediately seeking medical attention. Delaying a visit means that valuable time is lost, and the heart muscle can suffer extensive damage. An unnecessary visit to a doctor would be better than putting it off”, Kesäniemi explains.
The use of health services has been studied in massive population surveys for about 50 years already, and Mika Gissler of the National Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) says that women have been availing themselves of these services more than men.
Only in two stages of their lives do men deviate from the rule: young men, and men over 65, have more checkups than women in the same age groups.
“The difference with the young people can be explained by driving licence and conscription check-ups. The difference with the older men mainly involves checkups needed to renew a driving licence”, Gissler says.
The statistics reveal one disease that deviates from the formula. In the late 1980s, heart bypass operations were five times as frequent for men as they were for women. This can be explained by the greater frequency of coronary heart disease among men.
Only in recent years has it been noticed that the disease is more common among women than had previously been known, but the symptoms are atypical. Kesäniemi sees this as an example of how difficult health education can be.
“We have failed in giving advice on coronary heart disease. The symptoms of the disease do not always comprise pain in the middle of the chest. The symptoms can be vague pain in the shoulders and upper neck.
Kesäniemi believes that negative attitudes can be weeded out, and repaired by giving out truthful and clear information.
The job of an educator is not an easy one. Prohibitions and commands raise resistance, and encourage rebellious behaviour.
“Certainly, there is also a growing number of people who go to their medical check-ups and know their blood pressure and cholesterol levels.
Differences in health in Finland correlates more with levels of education than with gender.
“Well-educated men take care of their health the best. They respect themselves and take care of their appearance, which is considered incredibly important in today’s world”, says Arto Tiihonen, a researcher into men’s studies at the Age Institute. Tiihonen is trained in fitness science. He says that most of men’s health problems are questions of lifestyle.
“Warning signs of a weaker body are not necessarily noticed until something alarming takes place, the liver gives out, or a coronary artery is blocked.”
Today’s culture, which places a great emphasis on appearance, is brutal in Tiihonen’s view. When a man cannot even come close to the ideal, it is easy to say ‘to hell with it’ and ignore the whole matter. ‘I’m fat? So what?’.
The autumn is a time for good promises. People resolve to have a medical check-up, and plan to start an exercise regimen and a diet.
Arto Tiihonen works as a group leader in the Miessakit Association, an organisation that helps men with health issues; he knows all of the excuses that men give to slip from their good intentions.
“Make an estimate of your use of time, and keep a diary of your exercise”, is Tiihonen’s advice.
“If a man has not exercised at all, it is hard for him to understand how a great a positive change exercising for an hour a day can bring."
Helsingin Sanomat / First published in print 31.8.2009
Helsingin Sanomat
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| 8.9.2009 - THIS WEEK |
 Finnish men often ignore warning signs and avoid medical attention |
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