With Father’s Day tomorrow, specialists at University Hospitals in Iowa City are urging dads across the state to give a gift back to their families — their health.
Dr. Ladi Kukoyi, a professor in the U-of-I Department of Family Medicine, says some guys are stubborn and won’t go in for regular check-ups, plus, they’ll try to be "macho" by ignoring symptoms that could lead to serious health problems.
"Men live fewer years that women do, primarily because men don’t do a good job of taking care of themselves," he says. "It’s important on this day, when we’re remembering the contributions of fathers in our lives, that we remind our men to take care of themselves and go and see their doctors."
He says good health is the best present a father can give to himself — and to his family.
Dr. Kukoyi says starting from about age 40, most men need to see their doctors pretty much every year. They need to have a variety of things checked over like: blood pressure, cholesterol levels, risks of hypertension or diabetes, risks for heart disease and stroke.
For men who aren’t sure where to start, Kukoyi suggests asking another male friend to recommend a good general practictioner.