Children in Brazil are being urged to take five practical steps to manage their fathers' medical care on Father's Day on Sunday, August 9, as men in the country continue to face cultural barriers to seeking healthcare.
Figures from the Ministry of Health show that Brazilian men live on average 7.1 years less than women. Men also face a 40 percent to 50 percent higher risk of dying from chronic diseases, including cardiovascular and respiratory conditions.
Health authorities attribute the life expectancy disparity primarily to low rates of seeking medical services among men. Delaying doctor visits leads to late diagnoses and more complex, costly treatments.
Ministry of Health data on male health
The Ministry of Health, Brazil's federal health department, has highlighted low engagement with medical services as a key driver of male mortality. Father's Day, celebrated in Brazil on the second Sunday of August, is being promoted as an occasion to improve health habits beyond traditional gift giving.
The first recommended action for family members is compiling a complete medical history into a single physical folder or digital platform. Gathering all past exam results, vaccination records, and prescriptions in one location prevents the loss of important information and avoids unnecessary repetition of medical tests.
Families are also advised to maintain an updated medication list for any continuous treatments. The record should state the name, dosage, and frequency of each drug, providing critical guidance for healthcare professionals during emergencies or new consultations.
Practical steps for health management
To address the absence of immediate symptoms that often causes men to skip follow-up care, children are encouraged to establish a shared calendar. Shared scheduling helps keep preventive check-ups, doctor returns, and routine vaccinations up to date.
Creating a catalog of specialist contacts is the fourth key recommendation. Keeping accessible contact details for doctors who monitor the father, including cardiologists, urologists, and endocrinologists, simplifies appointment booking and speeds up emergency communication with medical teams.
Children should also discuss family medical history with their fathers and encourage them to report persistent symptoms, such as ongoing pain, shortness of breath, or mobility difficulties. Recognizing genetic risks and observing persistent symptoms improves the speed and accuracy of future medical diagnoses.
Breaking cultural patterns
Lucas Santiago, co-founder of Brazilian healthtech company MYME, said younger generations must break the established cultural pattern of men neglecting their health. He stated that simplifying a father's medical routine through simple daily actions is a practical way to show care on Father's Day.
Santiago added that organizing health records allows adult children to preserve vital information for the future. This documentation becomes critical when children assume legal responsibility for an aging parent and must consult with doctors to make clinical decisions.
