Today is the last day of Men’s Health Month. Dr. Michael Van Natta, a physician at Knoxville Hospital and Clinics, says men have a lower life expectancy than women in part because they see the doctor less. He notes that men tend to ignore symptoms and won’t go to the doctors unless unexplained symptoms persist for a long time. Van Natta says many men could live longer, healthier lives if they didn’t ignore those symptoms.

Aaron Smith, Urologist at Pella Regional Health Center, says that Urologist across the country are starting to shift towards being full men’s health doctors. He says Gynecologist fill that role for women now, and Urologist can naturally step into that role for men. He feels it’s important for Urologist to make sure men are getting the required tests for their age group when they come to visit him. He also recommends men visit the American Urologist Association website, AUAnet.org for a checklist of men’s health concerns.