Stop Reacting to Disease & Start Preventing It

Why Men Need to Prioritize Going to Primary Care Earlier

with Taylor Wesley, PA at Boone Health Primary Care – Moberly

After practicing primary care off and on for 10 years, Taylor Wesley, a physician’s assistant at Boone Health Primary Care – Moberly, has noticed a pattern that repeats itself so consistently it’s become impossible to ignore: many men don’t come to see a provider until something is already wrong. They wait until symptoms are obvious, disruptive, or frightening. By the time they walk through the door, often in their 50s or 60s, Wesley says they are no longer preventing disease; they’re reacting to it.

If men started coming in earlier, even in their late 30s or early 40s, problems could be caught long before they become chronic, irreversible, or life altering.

“When men finally do come in, it’s usually because something has forced their hand: fatigue they can’t shake, blood pressure that’s suddenly high, chest tightness they can’t ignore, or lab results from a workplace screening that raised alarms,” Wesley said. But the truth is, many of these issues didn’t appear overnight. They developed slowly, quietly, and often without noticeable symptoms.

“That’s the part that frustrates me,” Wesley shares. “Not because of the patients, but because I know how much easier things could have been if we’d caught them earlier. Instead of working ahead of the disease, I’m often working behind it.”

Diabetes

Prediabetes is one of the most common conditions Wesley diagnoses in men who haven’t been seen in years. It’s incredibly treatable when caught early. But most men don’t feel high blood sugar. They don’t feel insulin resistance. They don’t feel the slow, steady changes happening inside their bodies.

Kidney Function

The kidneys can lose a significant amount of function before symptoms appear. By the time swelling, fatigue, or changes in urination show up, the decline has often been happening for years.

These are the kinds of problems that routine labs can catch long before the patient ever feels a thing.

Heart Disease

Heart disease is still the biggest concern Wesley sees in men, and it’s one of the conditions where early detection makes the biggest difference. But many men have a very narrow idea of what heart problems look like. They’re waiting for sharp chest pain, but early heart disease rarely feels like that. What Wesley sees instead are subtle changes — has the patient had a drop in energy levels, are they fatigued during tasks that used to feel easy, or are they slower to recover after exercise?

“These are the signs I look for,” Wesley explains, “especially when a patient has a family history of heart disease. Genetics can accelerate risk dramatically, and many men don’t realize how much their family history shapes their own heart risk and future.”

Testosterone Deficiency

Wesley is also seeing testosterone deficiencies showing up earlier. Men often think low energy, low libido, or decreased motivation are signs they are getting older. In many cases, if caught early, these symptoms are signals of hormonal changes that can be addressed, often without medication.

Smoking/Alcohol

Smoking is less common among younger men, but Wesley still sees plenty of men in their 50s and 60s who smoke. A common belief is, “I’ve smoked this long—what’s the point of quitting now?” But quitting at any age improves lung function and reduces cardiovascular risk. Men also tend to underreport their alcohol use. Wesley has seen drinking increase in the late 30s and 40s, often tied to stress, sleep issues, or coping. Many men use alcohol as a form of self-medication, something to help them sleep, calm their nerves, or unwind. But alcohol often worsens the very problems they’re trying to manage.

“These are conversations we can have openly and without judgment, but only if men come in and see a primary care provider,” Wesley said.

Colon/Prostate Cancer

Colon cancer is the one that surprises people the most. Wesley’s own father was diagnosed at 44, before the screening guidelines dropped to age 45. “I’ve had patients diagnosed in their 20s,” Wesley said. “That’s why I encourage men to pay attention to stool changes long before they think they’re ‘old enough’ for colon cancer.”

According to the American Cancer Society, colorectal cancer is now the leading cause of cancer-related death in both men and women under 50 in the United States.

Prostate cancer is another area where early detection matters. Wesley usually starts screening patients in their 40s, but he also asks men to pay attention to urinary changes: are they getting up more often at night, is their stream weaker or do they feel like their bladder isn’t emptying completely?

“I practice a little differently than many in family medicine,” Wesley shares. “I don’t want to push medications unless they’re absolutely necessary. I think a lot of men avoid the doctor because they assume we’re going to prescribe something. But my goal is the opposite; I want to help you stay off medication by maximizing your lifestyle.”

Mental Health

Exercise is one of the most powerful tools we have, not just for physical health, but also for mental health. Many men won’t come in to talk about stress, anxiety, or mood changes. Exercise becomes a doorway to treating both body and mind with a combination of cardiovascular activity and resistance training. Cardio supports heart health. Resistance training supports testosterone, metabolism, and long-term strength.

Stress is one of the most overlooked contributors to chronic disease. Wesley is a big believer in getting outdoors. Fresh air, sunlight, and movement do more for mental health than most people realize.

And Wesley’s dietary advice is straightforward: single-ingredient foods are best. Reduce processed foods, prioritize protein and build meals around whole, unprocessed ingredients.

Screening is a powerful tool in primary care. Wesley encourages men to start screening earlier, especially if they have a family history of chronic disease or cancer. The earlier something can be detected, the more options are available for treatment.

At the end of the day, Wesley’s goal isn’t to prescribe more medication but to help men live healthier, longer, more fulfilling lives. If more men understood that primary care is about prevention, not pills, they may come in sooner. And if they did, so many of the chronic conditions that only show up once the damage is already done could be prevented.

“My hope is that more men start to see primary care not as a place you go when you’re sick, but as a partner in staying healthy,” Wesley said.

By Erin Wegner

To find a provider, visit boone.health/primary-care. To make an appointment at Boone Health Primary Care – Moberly, call 660-236-1225.