“The average life span of a man is significantly less than the average life span of a woman," says Dr. Bruce Yaffe, Internist. "Part of that is the fact that women are accustomed to taking care of themselves, often starting in teenage years going to gynecologists, and it's not uncommon to see a guy come in here who hasn’t been to a doctor for 20 years."

The reality is many men just aren’t very good at taking care of themselves. "A recent survey of about 1,100 men found that one in three will wait as long as they possibly can before seeing the doctor when they have a problem, but there are things that you can do to help the guy in your life take better care of himself," says Toni Hope, Health Editor, Good Housekeeping.

One great strategy is to go for routine care together. Some guys also eat too much. In fact, 60 percent of American men are overweight. "Working out together is another strategy that can benefit both of you," says Hope.

And Dr. Yaffe says don't wait to establish a health care routine. “Starting in your mid-20s is probably a real good time to establish rapport with a doc. As one gets into the 40s, one starts doing more preventative measures in terms of colon cancer and other chronic health problems,” he says.

A final note: Your husband's healthier habits can start with you. A Duke University study of 6,000 couples found that men whose wives quit smoking were eight times more likely to kick the habit than ones whose spouses continued to light up. And when women started having yearly flu shots, their husbands were six times more likely to get vaccinated themselves.

To learn more, check out the January issue of Good Housekeeping or visit www.goodhousekeeping.com.