Part of the problem may be society's demands that men be strong and stoic. Now there's an effort to tap into another part of macho culture and teach men to view their bodies as lean, mean racing machines. HealthWeek's Andy Field explains. How to lower your risk of getting varicose veins. But the problem goes beyond the race track.
Surveys show that men everywhere tend to avoid routine checkups.
Race fans know why. Fear is one of the obstacles this effort is trying to overcome. A trailer, equipped with volunteer doctors, is stopping at Winston Cup races coast to coast offering free screenings for blood pressure, diabetes, sexual health and cholesterol. Part of the problem is that you're given an owner's manual for your car, but no one says when you need maintenance. Dr. Matthew Mintz, an internist, says the good news is doctors don't need to look under your hood as often as mechanics look under these hoods.