June is Men's Health Month
It’s true that life these days is busier, with more obligations and more unhealthy distractions than ever before. For Men’s Health Month, spare a little time in your schedule and knock out some self-care you might have been putting off. “Even men who are physically fit need an extra push to stay on top of the exams that indicate their overall wellness,” says Florida Hospital Medical Group’s Zamip Patel, MD, a board-certified urologist. The same can be true for aging men, who are especially prone to health issues.
By the Numbers
An annual physical is essential to monitor your three most vital statistics: cholesterol, blood sugar and blood pressure. A complete cholesterol test measures the amount of cholesterol and triglycerides in your blood to determine your risk of building up artery-blocking plaque. Blocked arteries can result in heart attacks and strokes. Meanwhile, blood sugar that is persistently higher than normal can lead to Type 2 diabetes, a major risk factor for heart disease. And finally, about 75 million Americans have high blood pressure, and only half of them have it under control. High blood pressure puts you at risk for heart disease and stroke and can damage just about every other organ in your body as well.
Treatable, Beatable
Prostate cancer is the second-most common type of cancer found in American men, right behind skin cancer. Each year, more than 230,000 U.S. men will be diagnosed with this mostly preventable, treatable cancer. The prostate is a gland below the man’s bladder that produces the fluid that carries sperm. “When caught early," says Dr. Patel, "this cancer is beatable, which is why regular physical exams and lab work that look for warning signs of prostate cancer are imperative for men over 50." According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine, the probability of developing prostate cancer increases from 0.005% in men younger than 39 years to 2.2% in men between 40 and 59 years and 13.7% in men between 60 and 79 years. Screen early and often, because by the time there are symptoms, it might be too late and you may be more at risk.