We hear more and more about men’s health issues these days. Prostate health is one such issue. Then there is cancer, heart health, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, ulcers, and men's sexual health.
Men are being encouraged to not only focus on a healthy diet and lifestyle, but to take a more proactive approach toward their health care and getting regular health exams to check for these and other health problems.
Men should have a yearly medical check-up so that any health problems can be detected early. Detected early, many problems such as prostate cancer, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, heart trouble, and other problems can be treated with good results.
Men should get a yearly prostate examprostate problems. Prostate cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer in the U.S., so this exam is very important. The prostate gland stores and secretes a clear fluid that makes up part of the seminal fluid that constitutes semen. There is a blood test that helps detect prostate cancer, called the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test which should be performed yearly along with the digital exam (the exam the doctor does with his or her finger).
Men should have their blood pressure checked yearly, as well. High blood pressure increases the risk of heart attack, stroke, and kidney problems. There are rarely any symptoms of high blood pressure, so the only way to know you have it is to get it checked. Often, a proper diet and exercise is all that is needed to regulate the blood pressure and lower it if it is too high. If that doesn’t work, blood pressure medication may be needed.
A simple blood test can check for high cholesterol. Cholesterol is a fatty substance that accumulates in the blood vessels. Too much cholesterol can block vessels and cause a heart attack. As with blood pressure, sometimes changes in diet and exercise can lower cholesterol. Other times, blood pressure medication is necessary. A little finger prick is all it takes to check your blood sugar to see if you might have diabetes. Since more than 10 million men have diabetes, this is an important issue in men’s health.
Diabetes is a condition in which your body does not produce enough insulin or does not utilize insulin properly. Insulin is a chemical that breaks down sugars in your body. Untreated, diabetes can cause kidney damage, blindness, heart attack, and stroke. Ulcers are another health problem common to men. About 4 million Americans suffer from ulcers each year. Ulcers are small open sores in the lining of the stomach or small intestine. Symptoms include upset stomach and heartburn after eating. If an ulcer is suspected, it can be diagnosed by a test called a Barium x-ray. The patient swallows a solution of barium, which coats the walls of the digestive tract. An x-ray is then taken which will show any abnormalities in the stomach or small intestine. Ulcers are often caused by a bacterial infection, so antibiotics are prescribed to treat the condition.
Men's sexual health is also important, so a man should ask his doctor to test him for STD's on a regular basis if he is sexually active. As you can see, there are a number of health conditions to be aware of. It’s important for men to get regular medical screenings to maintain good health, especially after age 40.
