4 tips for men to live their healthiest

| Healthy You | Aging Well | Wellness

Father and son on bench in conversation in front of a waterfall

Men should seek preventive care and pay attention to small symptoms.

Despite good-natured joking about “man colds,” statistically, men are  more likely to minimize symptoms of illness or injury.

Ignoring even small signs of a health concern can lead to delayed diagnoses — sometimes after a condition has progressed and become much harder to treat.

“It’s common for men to shrug off what they think of as small problems,” says Jesse Nye, DO, a family medicine doctor for PeaceHealth Medical Group Clinic in Friday Harbor. “We like to feel invincible. Unfortunately, that doesn’t make the problems go away and it can make things worse.”

Just like fixing small things around the house or making sure the cars get routine maintenance, men feel better and have more peace of mind when they proactively care for their physical and mental well-being.

Where to focus

In light of National Men’s Health month, here are tips on where to focus attention to maintain good health:

  1. Get a yearly physical. This is a good time to bring up questions.
  2. Schedule overdue prostate, colorectal and other screenings.  Your doctor can tell you which tests are recommended based on your age and other risk factors.
  3. Manage  stress and prioritize your mental health. Be kind to yourself and give yourself grace. If you're anxious or lonely, connecting with friends can help.
  4. Limit alcohol  and tobacco use. It’s easy to overindulge, which can make existing problems worse or lead to new ones.

Schedule a visit

If you’re due for your annual checkup or screenings, you can schedule  virtual or in-person visits by:

Note: Dr. Nye not only recommends good self-care to his patients. He practices it himself. In June 2021, he completed the IRONMAN 70.3 Hawaiì Half-Triathlon in Kohala Coast, Hawaii.

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portrait of Jesse L. Nye DO

Jesse L. Nye DO

Hospital Medicine
Family Medicine
We welcomed Jesse Nye, DO, to the PeaceHealth Medical Group Friday Harbor Family Medicine team of providers in 2020. Dr. Nye grew up in Washington state and graduated from Central Washington University in Ellensburg with his Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees in Chemistry. He went to medical school at Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences in Yakima, Washington and completed a Family Medicine residency program at PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center in Vancouver, Washington. Dr. Nye is board certified by the American Board of Family Medicine. Dr. Nye is passionate about and invested in offering exceptional care to his patients. He enjoys all aspects of medicine and has special interests in hospital medicine, addiction medicine, public health and infectious disease. He shared, “The science of medicine has led to great advances in our understanding of disease and health. I enjoy taking care of patients with both complex and straightforward conditions, the young and the not so young, the healthy and very ill, and everything in between.” When away from the clinic, Dr. Nye enjoys spending time with his family and building (and breaking) stuff around the house. He stays active with running, triathlon, kayaking, hiking, skiing, and taking in all the Pacific Northwest has to offer.