Why Men Should be Proactive about Their Healthcare

Perhaps a vestige of male youth and a sense of immortality, a disregard for all things “healthy” surely describes many men in our lives.   This disregard turns into neglect when it comes to their personal health.  Most men see no reason to visit the doctor, unless it is emergency care they are looking to get.  This is quite opposite of women who are more likely to visit the doctor regularly, than men are.  I urge men to take their health more seriously and become proactive rather than reactive.

Interestingly, men die at higher rates than women for ALL the top causes of death, including heart disease, cancer and stroke. Statistically, women outlive men by about 6 years, driving the point home that men are slacking when it comes to their health.  Overall women tend to be healthier, but that doesn’t mean that women are immune to disease.  What this statistic in mortality and disease incidence shows is that women are better at taking care of themselves and take their preventative and follow up care seriously.  The male unwillingness to make routine visits, or see doctors despite symptoms that may arise, magnifies the problem.   Like women, men should be looking to keep one step ahead regarding their health.  This means not waiting for something to break down before you see a doctor.

In general, maintaining a healthy lifestyle, eating well and being regimented in exercise, along with making routine doctors’ visits can help you live longer.   Screening exams and routine visits can add years to your life just by catching problems early so that they can be more easily managed.  If we look at the top health issues facing men, many are preventable or easily managed if found through early detection.

Here are some of the leading health concerns facing men globally:

·       Colon and rectal cancer – The second-most common cause of cancer related death

·       Heart disease – A man's risk of cardiac issues increases after 45

·       Prostate cancer – dubbed the “silent killer” because symptoms are rare, and is the most common cancer among men

·       Stroke – Managing your high blood pressure can lower risk of stroke.  Diet and exercise can contribute greatly to lowering elevated blood pressure.

·       Diabetes – Many men are unaware of this but vision loss, kidney disease and erectile dysfunction are common symptoms.  Don’t ignore them.

·       Dementia and Alzheimer’s disease – Although typical to older age bracket, men as young as 40 can develop symptoms

·       Throat and lung cancer – Because cigarettes are a major contributing factor something as simple as quitting smoking can reduce the risk of these cancers

While not all diseases, especially cancers, are preventable, early detection saves lives. Talk with your doctor to discuss the top recommended health screenings for men. This way, you can stay healthy, protected, and keep yourself aware. Even if you feel good, you should make regular visits to your doctor to screen for health issues, assess your risk of future health issues, stay up to date with vaccinations, and discuss how to maintain a healthy lifestyle. These visits can help you avoid problems down the road.

Here are six of the most important screening tests men should have as recommended by the American Cancer Society, U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, and the American Heart Association:

1. Blood pressure: If your blood pressure is below 120/80 mmHg, get checked at least once every 2 years starting at age 20, if your blood pressure is higher than 120/80 mmHg, get it checked more often. 

2. Cholesterol/heart disease: Get your lipid panel checked every 4-6 years for normal-risk people, starting at age 20.

3. Diabetes: Get your blood glucose checked at least every 3 years starting at age 45.

4. Colorectal cancer: Most people should get their firs colonoscopy at age 50, followed by every 10 years, usually until the age of 75.

5. Prostate cancer: All men should get a baseline PSA test and a digital rectal exam starting at age 40, followed by once a year.

6. Testicular cancer: the American Cancer Society recommends that men have testicular exams during annual physical exam