Men’s Health

We all know a little about the things we need to do to keep ourselves healthy, but in practice we tend to overlook some of the basics. Today we are going to discuss the issues that men need to think about to keep themselves healthy and strong.

Young men rarely go to the doctor unless they are sick or injured. Because of this they are much less likely than women to be screened for serious health conditions. There are a few things that men in their twenties and thirties need to address concerning their health.

First, testicular cancer occurs primarily in men between the ages of 15 and 35, though it can occur at any age. Young men need to learn to do testicular self examination and discuss any concerns they have with their physician. This is a cancer that is almost always curable when discovered early. For more information on testicular cancer including instructions on testicular self-exam, go to the Testicular Cancer Resource Center on the web at http://tcrc.acor.org/

Some of the common health problems that we think of as being diseases of older men start in young men. Getting screened when young for high cholesterol and other abnormalities of blood lipids (or fats) can lead to changes in lifestyle and, when necessary, medical treatments that delay or prevent problems like coronary artery disease. This is especially important if there is a family history of early heart disease. Most authorities on preventive medicine recommend screening for high cholesterol and abnormal patterns of lipids every five years from the age of 20.

In people with a family history of adult onset diabetes, screening for diabetes at the same time as cholesterol screening can be important. In addition, maintaining a healthy body weight, eating a well balanced diet low in refined carbohydrates (like sugar and white flour) and low in saturated (solid at room temperature) fat can help prevent diabetes and high cholesterol in people prone to them. On the other hand, diet is only part of the picture. Some people exercise daily, eat well, maintain their weight and still develop diabetes, high cholesterol and heart disease. This is why screening is important even if you take good care of yourself.

Again, because young men rarely go to the doctor, early high blood pressure can be missed. Hypertension, or high blood pressure, is truly a silent killer. Most people with high blood pressure feel just fine. Meanwhile the high pressure puts continuous stress on the heart and blood vessels leading to problems such as coronary artery disease, congestive heart failure, kidney failure and strokes in later life. Many larger companies have plant nurses who will check employees’ blood pressure. Most pharmacies have automatic blood pressure machines. Get your blood pressure checked at least once or twice a year. If it is elevated see your medical provider. These days most authorities recommend that blood pressure, especially in young people, should be below 130/80. Lower blood pressure is always better than higher blood pressure in healthy people.

Men over 40 need to pay more attention to getting screened for hypertension, diabetes and high cholesterol. In addition men over 40 should start being screened for prostate cancer, an extremely common disease of older men. There are some differences in recommendations for prostate screening. Nearly all authorities recommend an annual digital rectal exam for all men 40 and older. African American men tend to develop prostate cancer at an earlier age, so they should also get their PSA checked nnually from age 40 on. PSA is a blood test that detects chemical released into the blood by an abnormal prostate gland. A high value does not necessarily mean you have prostate cancer, but it must be followed up by a urologist. All men 50 and over should have a PSA test annually.

Men’s health is also dependent on using basic good sense in many areas of life. Avoid excessive sun exposure and use sunscreens and protective clothing if you spend lots of time in the sun. Don’t start smoking, and if you do smoke, make plans to stop. Wear seat belts and drive sensibly. Don’t drink excessively (1-2 drinks a day may be beneficial to cholesterol but more causes more problems than it prevents) and never drink and drive.