In the study, researchers followed 4,000 men between the ages of 12 and 42 who suffer from high blood pressure, a condition that increases the risk of heart attacks, strokes and dementia.
The team used data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health (Add Health), which collected health information from more than 12,000 people between 1994 and 2018.
The researchers focused on the behaviors and preferences reported by the participants, and the extent to which they match those of their peers of the same gender.
It was found that men with higher masculine traits “were 11% less likely to take medications prescribed to them to treat blood pressure.”
A man who had shown signs of masculinity since puberty was also 7% less likely to take prescription blood pressure medications in his 30s and early 40s, and 10% less likely to take diabetes medications.
The study found that their desire to appear strong and independent “prevents them from seeking medical help, even after being diagnosed with health conditions,” which can lead to serious health problems, such as heart disease, that could have been avoided if they had taken their health seriously.
Meanwhile, a Cleveland Clinic survey showed that 65% of men avoid seeking medical help for as long as possible, citing their preoccupation or belief that the problem will go away on its own.
Source: Daily Mail
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