Men's Health: What Women Should Know
Why Women Need to Know About Men's Health
As women, we are often the ones called upon to see that our family's receive the health care they need; we take the children to the pediatrician and regularly visit our OB/GYN. But what about the men in our lives? When do they see the doctor? If the men in your life are like most men, the only time they see a doctor is when they are too sick for over-the-counter (OTC) medications to do any good. Regular doctor visits are just as important for men as they are for women.
What Are Some of the Health Issues That Men Face?
Men face several health issues of their own. Did you know that according to Jed Diamond's book "Male Menopause" all men are almost 100% guaranteed to develop at least one of three diseases/conditions of the prostate? These include cancer of the prostate, benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH), and prostatitis. Leading experts in the field of herbal therapies recommend the addition of the herbal supplement Saw Palmetto as an important preventive measure against diseases of the prostate.
One unfortunate disease women and men have in common is heart disease which is the leading cause of death in both women and men. This disease is often preventable through lifestyle changes that include regular exercise, quitting smoking, and nutritional changes, but sadly not enough men are making these changes and heart disease continues to claim the life of over 350,000 men annually in the United States.
One-hundred and fifty thousand of our men die each year from cancers of the lung, prostate, and colon; these diseases are many times preventable through lifestyle changes as well. Suggestions for reducing the risk of these cancers include seeing the doctor regularly, quitting smoking, limiting consumption of alcohol, and reducing fat and increasing fruits and vegetables in the diet. Men face another cancer which is uniquely there own, testicular cancer.
As women, we don't have to be reminded how men are more likely to react in anger and without thinking to situations and this impulsiveness is often the cause of the third leading cause of death in men--accidents. Almost 60,000 men die each year due to mishaps such as automobile accidents, drowning, guns, and fire. Men need to learn to think more before reacting and thousands of deaths each year could be prevented. Men who are especially prone to anger should seek professional counseling.
Another sad fact for men is that nearly four times as many men as women commit suicide each year. Depression in men is a serious issue and if you notice the signs of depression in a man in your life, early psychiatric intervention may be critical in preventing him from becoming one of the more than 24,000 men who take their own life each year, thereby making suicide the seventh leading cause of death in men.
About three-quarters of the HIV infections in the world are present in men, making this the eighth cause of death in men. This deadly disease, as well as other sexually transmitted diseases could be prevented if condoms were used habitually by all men who are not in long-term, monogamous relationships.
Over three million men in the United States have diabetes and the importance of screening for this disorder rises as men age; diabetes is the ninth leading cause of death in men and almost 20,000 deaths could be prevented if men were aware of the symptoms which include constant thirst, fatigue, weight loss, and frequent urination.
What
Screening Exams Does a Man Need? Physical
Exam with Blood/Urine Tests Every
three years from age 20-39 Every
two years from age 40-49 Every
year after age 50 Electrocardiogram
(EKG) Every
three to five years beginning at age 30, if in a high
risk group Every
three to five years after 50 Sigmoidoscopy Those
at high risk should have a colonoscopy at age 40 and
follow their doctor's recommendations for further
screening Every
three to four years after age 50 PSA
Blood Test (prostate cancer screen) Every
year after 40 if in a high risk group Every
year after 50 Rectal
Exam and Hemmocult Every
year after 40 Every
year Tuberculosis Every
five years from ages 20-39 Tetanus
Booster Every
tens years for everyone!
Where Can I Learn More About Men's Health?
There are numerous other health issues faced by the men in our lives, "His Health" columns by Dr. Ken Goldberg of the Male Health Center in Dallas, TX are a comprehensive resource that will answer your men's health questions.
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