June Was Men’s Health Month!

Men’s Health Month raises awareness about the health care issues men face and promotes early detection through annual screenings.

Preventive Care

Men face unique and often serious health concerns.  Studies show that most men won’t go to a doctor if they are feeling well, and that they usually delay seeing the doctor when they’re sick. The problem is that feeling well is not the same as being healthy. A person can feel “fine” when high blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar are silently affecting their health.

“Although a patient may feel well, these conditions are already affecting their heart and blood vessels,” said Kimberly Campbell, M.D., cardiologist with Crozer Health. “The best time to treat these conditions is before a patient develops heart disease.  With aggressive management of blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar, a man can significantly reduce the likelihood of heart attack, heart failure, kidney disease, and stroke. Yearly evaluation with your doctor can help detect and treat these conditions early.”

Heart Disease

On average, men develop heart disease 10 years earlier than women do.  According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC):

• Heart disease is the leading cause of death for men in the U.S., killing 357,761 men in 2019—that’s about 1 in every 4 male deaths.
• Heart disease is the leading cause of death for men of most racial and ethnic groups in the U.S.
• About 1 in 13 (7.7%) white men and 1 in 14 (7.1%) black men have coronary heart disease. About 1 in 17 (5.9%) Hispanic men have coronary heart disease.

However, heart disease and most heart attacks in men are preventable by making simple lifestyle changes. The following medical conditions and lifestyle choices can put men at a higher risk for heart disease, including:

• Diabetes
• Obesity
• Unhealthy diet
• Physical inactivity
• Excessive alcohol use

Prostate Cancer

One in six men will get prostate cancer during their lifetime. African-American men are twice as likely as white men to develop this disease in their 50s, and twice as likely to die from the disease.

To reduce your risk of developing prostate cancer:

• Choose a low-fat diet.
• Increase the amount of fruits and vegetables you eat every day.
• Reduce the amount of dairy products you eat each day.
• Maintain a healthy weight.
• Exercise most days.

Prostate cancer can be easily treated if caught early. All men should undergo screenings for prostate cancer. According to the American Cancer Society, discussion about screening should take place at age 50 for men who are at average risk of developing prostate cancer and age 45 for men at high risk. Talk to your doctor about when you should be screened for prostate cancer.

Set up an appointment with your primary care doctor today!