Kelly Ripa Admits She Often Puts Off Health Issues Until It's 'Too Late'

Kelly Ripa is getting candid about one habit she knows she probably should change when it comes to her health.

During a Monday, August 31, episode of Live With Kelly and Mark, Ripa and husband Mark Consuelos discussed recent health statistics and studies in the U.S. The conversation turned to the ways people can brush off signs that something may be wrong.

“The majority of Americans ignore symptoms that could be serious,” Consuelos began.

Ripa immediately requested, “Give me these symptoms.”

Consuelos went on to mention “rashes, sleep issues and digestive issues,” explaining that many people “assume” it’s “not serious.”

“Men are more likely to ignore minor symptoms because they believe they can push through them,” he said, adding that women “don’t want to act” on the symptoms because they “don’t want to overreact.”

The conversation then took a more personal turn when Consuelos joked about his own approach to getting medical advice, saying, “sometimes” he “pre-calls a doctor,” making him “not part” of the statistics.

Ripa, meanwhile, admitted she tends to take the complete opposite approach.

“I conversely ignore everything until it’s too late,” Ripa added. “You’ve been hearing about my bad knee for years, on this show. Ask me what I’ve done about it.”

She immediately had an answer: “Nothing,” she revealed. “You know why?”

Ripa explained that she sometimes worries that seeking help could lead to even more concerns.

“I felt like when you go in with the problem, they find a problem,” she shared. “So, this is like a little irritation, and I’ll get over it someday.”

Ripa's confession comes after she dealt with a painful dental procedure earlier this summer.

As OK! previously reported, the TV personality was absent from Live With Kelly and Mark in July after undergoing gum graft surgery that was reportedly caused by over-brushing her teeth.

At the time, Consuelos reassured viewers that she was "doing great," although there was one major catch: "she's not allowed to talk."

Substitute host Kevin Jonas couldn't resist joking about the situation.

"It's got to be the hardest thing she's ever done,” he said.

Consuelos went on to add he's "trying to keep her following the rules and sticking to the doctor's instructions."

Ripa was also told not to use straws or pull down her bottom lip to look at the wounds while they healed.

Consuelos later gave fans a better idea of how uncomfortable the recovery had been.

“Yeah. It's painful. She famously doesn't feel pain. She doesn't; when she goes to the dentist, she doesn't really use the Novocaine. But this one hurts. So I know it's painful,” he shared.

Ripa also discussed the experience on her "Let's Talk Off Camera" podcast.

"It is [painful]," Ripa confirmed before she shared that she’s "not allowed to talk for 10 days" because "they take the skin off of the roof of your mouth and they put it (over your gums)," as part of the procedure.

She had previously explained how her dental routine contributed to the issue.

"I’m an over-brusher. I brush my teeth too much. It’s a good bad habit. So, they’ve got to re-gum my gums!" she ranted.

Although guest Michelle Buteau commended Ripa for taking time away to focus on herself, the TV host quickly added an important detail.

"Before you praise me, I was supposed to do it five years ago. But now, just so you know, the doctor was like, 'Now, you don’t have the luxury of time!'" she revealed.