When addressing men's health, the conversation typically revolves around dealing with heart disease, low testosterone, diabetes, and orthopedic issues—bad knees, back, and hips. Also, unlike women, who are accustomed to annual physicals to keep on top of topics such as gynecological care and cancer prevention, men don't go to the doctor until something is seriously wrong. Suggest an annual physical to most men, and the response is often, "Why?"
Dr. Neela Sandal, M.D., founder of Atma Clinic, feels men should be able to shoot hoops with friends, toss their children (or grandchildren) in the air, workout at the gym, or get in a round of golf feeling great, whether they're 35, 45, or 65. If fatigue, aches, and pains are getting in the way, then it’s time to find out the reason.
"It's fairly well known that men don't go to the doctor, and there's a fair reason for this," says Dr. Sandal. "Most doctors don't have anything to offer men. Men generally are a little bit more ready to suck it up and just put up with it. I don't feel great, but I don't feel bad. And so they won't go to a physician who tells them, 'Yeah, you don't feel bad. You're fine.'
"What's missing is health-focused care. Their healthcare needs, their optimization needs, go unmet. I think that's where I would like to see healthcare go because men don't really have a connection with most doctors unless they have a serious health illness. Why should you go to the doctor? The answer is because you want to optimize your health. Because you should feel like you did when you were 25. You're 45? You should still feel 25."
The Atma Clinic's philosophy is to promote health instead of just treating illness. This happens by combining conventional Western medicine with Eastern medical traditions such as herbalism, energy therapy, and Chinese medicine. Their patients come in for various reasons, including to stay in the best health possible and looking for answers to why a man may feel he has slowed down or lost a step in their 30s, 40s, and beyond.
Dr. Sandal notes, "As our study of human longevity progresses, we understand there's a huge difference between biological and chronological age. If someone can be 56 and have the biology of a 30-year-old, you know we should push for that. There's no reason we should wait until we're keeling over to ask for help. I think this is one of the central challenges in men's health in general. Men don't like to ask for help, period."
When a man makes an appointment at the clinic, the first thing that will happen is figuring out why they don't feel at their optimal level of health and energy. Often, it's not uncommon that the issue is a combination of stress, sleep deprivation, family obligations, and dissatisfaction with work. Sometimes, it's not lifestyle things, but the body's chemistry. Perhaps an infection is still hanging around, or it's the natural reduction of testosterone or adrenal gland function. Once the why is answered, steps are taken to correct the issues.
"Men should feel comfortable coming to the clinic because we know how to solve their problems," says Dr. Sandal. "We listen. We understand that the feeling of not being perfect should be fixed. Our goal at Atma Clinic is to empower people to fix themselves. We know how to work with men to help them feel powerful. We help them feel empowered in their health rather than having a physician who gives them a pill."
He also adds, "Men need better healthcare. You don't feel great? OK, go to your doctor. And if your doctor doesn't know how to treat that, go to a different doctor. Find a specialist who can help you focus on feeling excellent. A doctor who focuses on wellness and maintaining your health and longevity, not just someone who will see you for 15 minutes and do some basic labs. We can go way, way deeper than that. You deserve it."
To learn more about Atma Clinic's approach, go to AtmaClinic.com. Sandal also has a YouTube channel: YouTube.com/@NeelaSandalMD.