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Men Less Likely Than Women To See A Doctor

By Dr. Brian McDonough, Medical Editor

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - I don't need a study to tell me this but when it comes to physical examinations between the ages of 15 and 65 men were significantly less likely than women to seek care from a primary care physician.

Men make up only 15 percent of visits in this age group where women make up 44 percent. One in three men say they don't have a family doctor. But these visits are important because health issues like high blood pressure can be diagnosed and treated and long term damage can be prevented.

Another way of looking at this is when you consider men who are over twenty: 48% do not regularly engage in physical activity, 33% are obese, 31% have high blood pressure and 22% smoke.

There are lots of opportunities to be healthier.

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