Val Verde RMC | Keeping Well | Summer 2016

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H EART DISEASE, CANCER AND
STROKE.
These are words no one wants
to think about, but men can’t afford to
ignore them: All three diseases are among
the leading causes of death of American
men.
Lung cancer is the most common fatal
cancer for men, followed by prostate
cancer and colon and rectal cancers.
But with knowledge and a little effort,
men can take steps to avoid these and
other potentially dangerous health
conditions.
It can all start with a trip to your
doctor, something men do significantly
less often than women, according to the
U.S. Department of Health and Human
Services (HHS).
You can tell your doctor about your
health history, your medications and any
problems you’re having. And your doctor
can tell you about health screenings,
medications you might need and some of
the healthy behaviors you can adopt.
SCREENING TESTS
Screenings can find diseases early, when
they may be more effectively treated.
Cholesterol. High cholesterol is one
of the major risk factors for heart disease.
Check yours at least every five years,
starting at age 35.
Blood pressure. High blood pressure
increases your risk of stroke, heart attack,
kidney failure and heart failure. But
it often has no symptoms. That’s why
it’s important to get it checked at least
every two years. If you have high blood
pressure, you may need medication to
control it.
Diabetes. If you have high blood
Call your physician
and make an
appointment. If you
don’t have one, go to
to
find a great doctor.
Men’s health/Salud de los hombres
pressure or high cholesterol, get screened
for diabetes. Diabetes increases your risk
for a number of serious conditions—
including heart disease, stroke, kidney
disease and eye problems.
Colorectal cancer. Screening for most
men should start at age 50. If you have a
family history of colorectal cancer, you
may need to start screening earlier.
Other cancers. Ask your doctor if you
should be screened for prostate, lung,
oral, skin or other cancers.
Abdominal aortic aneurysm. If you
are between 65 and 75 years old and have
smoked 100 or more cigarettes in your
lifetime, ask your doctor to screen you
for an abdominal aortic aneurysm—a
swollen blood vessel in your abdomen
that can suddenly burst.
PREVENTIVE MEDICINE
Some medications can help stop health
problems before they start. If your doctor
gives you a new prescription, be sure to
ask what the medicine is, why you need it,
how often you should take it and what the
possible side effects are.
Aspirin can help prevent heart disease.
If you are 45 or older, ask your doctor
if taking a daily aspirin is right for you.
How much aspirin you should take
depends on your age, health and lifestyle.
Immunizations are not just for kids.
Most men should get a flu shot every year,
a tetanus-diphtheria shot every 10 years
and a pneumonia shot when they reach 65.
Talk to your doctor about whether
you should be immunized against other
diseases, such as chickenpox, measles,
mumps, rubella, meningitis, shingles,
HPV (human papillomavirus), or
hepatitis A or B. Stephen Korte, MD
Real men get
checkups
TAKE CHARGE OF YOUR HEALTH
4 Keeping Well/Mantenerse Sano