Men typically suffer more serious illnesses and die at a younger age than women. You wouldn’t know it by looking at the average doctor’s waiting room, though. Men don’t report as many symptoms as women do, and they let a problem go further before they seek medical help.

If you have a tendency to ignore or downplay physical or emotional problems, or exhibit other kinds of self-destructive, “macho” behavior, make a conscious effort to change. Here’s how: