November is Movember: What You Need to Know About Men鈥檚 Health
For nearly twenty years, Movember has been raising awareness of men鈥檚 health issues every November. The movement started with two friends in Australia who used their about prostate cancer. Today, the project supports men鈥檚 health initiatives around the world.听听
Movember also raises awareness that, on average, women outlive men by five years.听听
鈥淲e know that men seek out medical care less frequently than women, for both preventative services and sick visits,鈥 says Benjamin Scallon, M.D., primary care physician at 富二代成版人app at Long Island City and assistant professor of clinical medicine at 富二代成版人app Medical College. 鈥淭here are many complicated reasons why, ranging from a gendered masculine script of independence and resilience to nongendered-specific reasons, such as not wanting to take time away from work.鈥听
If you鈥檙e a man and don鈥檛 want to be part of this statistic, there are things you can do to take control of your health. Learning the basics and taking your preventative health care seriously is a great start.听
Prostate Health听
The prostate is a gland that sits below the bladder and surrounds the urethra, the tube that carries urine from the bladder. The fluid in semen is made in the prostate. There are many different types of prostate diseases. Two common prostate issues that men have are an enlarged prostate and prostate cancer.听
Enlarged Prostate听
Enlarged prostate is also called benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). The prostate naturally grows as you age. As it grows, it can press on the urethra.听
The older you are, the more likely you will have BPH. Some men may start having symptoms of BPH in their 40s. Nearly all men who live to be 80 or older will have BPH.听
BPH is not the same as prostate cancer. It鈥檚 not life-threatening, but it can decrease your quality of life, causing:听
- Bladder incontinence听
- Difficulty emptying the bladder听
- Frequent nighttime trips to the bathroom听
- Pain when urinating听
- Trouble starting the stream of urine听
- Weak flow of urine听
鈥淏PH symptoms should be treated for two reasons. One, of course, is quality of life,鈥 says Douglas Scherr, M.D., board-certified urologist, professor of urology and the clinical director of urologic oncology at the 富二代成版人app Medical College. 鈥淭he second reason is that if someone is walking around with a full bladder, it ultimately can damage their kidneys and bladder, which could lead to a very serious medical problem.鈥听
BPH is usually diagnosed based on medical history, a and a blood test to look for high levels of prostate-specific antigen (PSA). This is a protein produced by the prostate.听听
Levels of PSA may be higher than normal if you have BPH or prostate cancer. If your PSA test is high, your provider may order more testing to better understand what is happening with your prostate. These tests might include getting images with an MRI or taking a small sample of the prostate tissue through a biopsy.听
Prostate Cancer听
In the United States, is the second most common type of cancer in men.听听
You may be at a higher risk of developing prostate cancer if you:听
- Are 50 years old or older听
- Are African American听
- Have a close family member who has had breast, ovarian or prostate cancer听
In general, prostate cancer screening with a PSA test is recommended every two to three years for men aged 55 to 69 and earlier for those at high risk. However, prostate cancer tends to be very slow growing, and screening has pros and cons.听
鈥淭here鈥檚 evidence that getting one PSA test in your 40s can determine the frequency of future testing,鈥 says Jim Hu, M.D., MPH, board-certified urological surgeon and professor of urology and urologic oncology at 富二代成版人app Medical College. 鈥滻蹿 your PSA is less than one, you have a low lifetime risk of having or developing prostate cancer. If that PSA is greater than one in your 40s, it must be monitored more closely.鈥听
Talk with your provider to decide if and when prostate cancer screening is right for you.听
Skin Cancer听
Skin cancer screenings should be a consideration for any man who spends time outdoors. Ideally, men reapply a broad-spectrum sunscreen every two hours, shielding their skin from UVB and UVA. With that protection and being mindful of staying out of direct sunlight during the sunniest parts of the day (10 a.m. to 4 p.m.), men can reduce their chance of developing skin cancer.听
Regardless of sun exposure, skin cancer screenings are still recommended. Regular spot checks are always a good idea, but the professionals suggest an annual, full-body screening.听
鈥淎s a general rule,鈥 says Andrew Alexis, M.D., MPH, the vice-chair for diversity and inclusion for the Department of Dermatology and dermatologist at the Center for Diverse Skin Complexions at 富二代成版人app in New York City, 鈥渙nce a year, full body skin examination is the ideal. And by full body skin examination, I mean head to toe. While the sun is the most important or most common risk factor for most of the skin cancers we see, there are instances, including in patients of color, where skin cancers can occur in places that don't get much sun exposure. So we have to look at everything from hands to toes, the bottoms of feet, between the toes, and areas that are typically covered up by clothing.鈥听
Testicular Cancer听
Testicular cancer is not very common overall. However, it is the most common cancer in young men aged 15 to 44.听听
In most cases, testicular cancer is treatable and curable if discovered early. are an excellent way to tell if anything is changing or different.听
Make an appointment with your provider if you:听
- Are not able to find one or both testicles听听
- Feel a group of soft, thin tubes above your testicles听
- Find a hard lump, even a tiny one听
- Have discomfort, pain or swelling in your scrotum听
- Notice anything abnormal for you听
Mental Health听
Health is more than just physical. matters too. About a quarter of men will have an anxiety disorder during their lifetime. Depression also affects millions of American men each year.听听
The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends anxiety screening for all adults under age 64 and depression screening for adults of all ages.听
鈥淪creening for anxiety and depression is important, especially since men are much less likely than women to seek care for mental health issues,鈥 says Dr. Scallon. 鈥淭he reasons why men do not seek out care probably include a 鈥榩ick yourself up by the bootstraps鈥 mentality, as well as persistent stigma towards mental health in our society.鈥听
Signs of an anxiety disorder may include:听
- A sudden racing heartbeat for no known reason听
- Feeling fear or panic听
- Obsessive thoughts听
Depression may cause:听
- Changes in your sleep patterns听
- Feeling sad or worthless听
- Loss of interest in your hobbies or other things you usually enjoy听
- Low energy听
- Thoughts of hurting yourself or someone else听
- Weight gain or loss听
Dealing with mental health issues doesn't mean you鈥檙e weak. It means you鈥檙e human. Treatments are available to address and manage mental health problems.听听
Erectile Dysfunction and Cardiovascular Health听
Erectile dysfunction, or ED, is a common reason men go to see their provider. However, many men may be surprised by the cause of their ED.听听
鈥淢en often see me for help with erectile dysfunction, not realizing it can be associated with heart and vascular disease,鈥 Dr. Scallon says. 鈥淚t is important for men to maintain a heart-healthy lifestyle by not smoking, eating a healthy diet, and exercising.鈥听
Low testosterone levels are another possible reason for erectile dysfunction. Your provider can test your levels with a blood test and provide treatment if it鈥檚 found to be low. If your testosterone levels are low, you may also experience:听
- Fatigue听
- Hair loss听
- Weight gain听
All parts of the body are connected. To improve your heart health, mental health, prostate health, sexual health and overall quality of life:听
- Eat a healthy diet听
- Get enough exercise听
- Have a consistent sleep schedule听
- Learn to manage stress听听
Getting regular checkups and recommending screenings will help you detect problems early, stay healthy and prevent the need for more intensive medical treatment later on.听
Don鈥檛 wait to take care of your health. Find a doctor and make an appointment today.听