Men's Health

MEN'S HEALTH What is Men's Health? Men's health encompasses the diseases that can only affect males, like prostate cancer and low testosterone, as well as other health concerns for men. Diabetes, heart disease, cancer, and accidents are serious events that can threaten their health and wellbeing. Heart Fortunately, many of the risk factors for these conditions can be prevented and screening tests can find diseases early, when they are easier to treat. Therefore, it is important for men to have regular check-ups and screenings. Kidneys 1) Obesity Roughly 2 out of 3 men in the U.S. are •Obesity increases risk of diabetes, liver disease, gallbladder disease, coronary disease, and colon cancer in men obese or overweight • Obese men are more likely to have aggressive prostate cancer than men of a healthy weight • Obese men have lower sperm counts, lower testosterone, and worse erectile function than men with a healthy weight; in addition, erectile dysfunction is a harbinger for more serious cardiovascular, metabolic, and psychological diseases Prostate 2) Heart Disease Blocked Heart disease is the leading cause of death for men coronary artery • Heart disease is responsible for 1 in every 4 male deaths • 1/2 of the men who die suddenly of coronary heart disease have no previous symptoms Did You Know? The other leading causes of death for men are cancer and accidents (unintentional injuries) Esophagus • Every year, cancer claims the lives of nearly 300,000 men in America; over 29,000 of these are prostate cancer deaths Kidneys Stomach Pancreas- Colon • In men, the following cancers are associated with being overweight: colorectal cancer, esophageal adenocarcinoma (a type of cancer of the tube that connects your throat to your stomach), and cancer of the kidney and pancreas Rectum- Motor vehicle accidents, poisonings, drownings, and falls are the leading causes of unintentional injury deaths for men ages 15-44 • Men are twice as likely to die from unintentional injuries than women Men's Health Disease Prevention Tips Eat healthy • Reduce "simple carbs" (these include starches in bread, pasta, rice, and potatoes – or high-fructose corn syrup and other caloric sweeteners in prepared and processed foods) • Men with higher intakes of simple carbohydrates are more likely to have lower levels of HDL (good) cholesterol and higher levels of triglycerides (blood fats) • Eat a fiber-rich diet • High-fiber diets have been linked to a lower risk of cancer deaths in men • According to research, individuals who ate at least 26 grams of fiber per day were 22% less likely to die from cardiovascular, infectious, and respiratory diseases than those who consumed 13 grams or less per day • Reduce salt intake to 2,300 mg/day • Too much salt causes water retention and disrupts the salt/mineral/water balance in your kidneys, which puts you at greater risk of kidney stones • Avoid consuming "bad" fat (i.e., saturated fat and trans fat) • Saturated fat raises total blood cholesterol levels and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels, which can increase your risk of cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes • Trans fat can increase unhealthy LDL cholesterol and lower healthy high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, increasing your risk of cardiovascular disease Be active • Exercise at least 3 hours per week Protect yourself • Wear a safety belt every time you drive or ride in a motor vehicle • Never drive while under the influence of alcohol or drugs or let someone drive who is • Wear a helmet when riding a bike or motorcycle, skating, or playing contact sports • Males are twice as likely as females to sustain a traumatic brain injury Get regular check-ups • Men are 24% less likely than women to have visited a doctor within the past year • The likelihood of developing prostate cancer rises rapidly after age 50, and two out of every three cases of prostate cancer are found in men over 65 60 Men should discuss their prostate cancer risk profile and screening benefits with their primary care physician or urologist and have a baseline prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test at age 40, if they wish to pursue an early diagnosis Men's Health Recommended Screening Guidelines for Men Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Abdominal If you are between the ages of 65 and 75 and have ever aortic aneurysm smoked, have your doctor conduct a one-time test for an abdominal aortic aneurysm Colorectal Cancer Transverse Ascending colon Get screened for colorectal colon cancer starting at age 50 Descending colon • If you have a family history of colorectal cancer, you may need to be screened earlier Rectum Colonoscope Prostate Cancer • Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths among men in the United States. Men should speak with their physicians about the benefits of prostate cancer screening in order to make an informed decision. Prostate cancer Bladder Prostate • African-American men and men who have a father or brother who was diagnosed with prostate cancer before age 65 have a higher risk for developing prostate cancer. For these men, screening is highly recommended, generally in one's early 40's. Diabetes Get screened for diabetes if your blood pressure is higher than 135/80 or if you take medication for high blood pressure • Diabetes (high blood sugar) can cause problems with your heart, brain, eyes, feet, kidneys, nerves, and other body parts Diabetes >126 mg/dl If your BMI is a greater than 25 and are of a high-risk ethnic population (e.g., African American, American Indian/Native American, <126 mg/dl Pre Diabetes >100 mg/dI Blood Glucose After Fasting: Hispanic, Asian) or do less than 30 minutes of moderate Normal <100 mg/dl exercise five times a week, you are at-risk for diabetes and should have your blood sugar levels checked High Blood Pressure Starting at age 18, have your blood pressure checked at least every 2 years • High blood pressure is 140/90 or higher • High blood pressure can cause strokes, heart attacks, kidney and eye problems, and heart failure High Cholesterol If you are 35 or older, have your cholesterol checked Have your cholesterol checked starting at age 20 if: • You use tobacco • You are obese • You have diabetes or high blood pressure • You have a personal history of heart disease or blocked 12 arteries • A man in your family had a heart attack before age 50 or a woman before age 60 HIVIAIDS If you are between the ages of 15 and 65, you should be screened for HIV infection Men and Depression • More than 6 million American men experience major depression each year, and men are less likely to seek help when dealing with depression. However, with the right treatment, most men can manage their depressive symptoms and gain back their interest in work, family, and hobbies. Mount Sinai 2013 The Mount Sinai Hospital, New York You are free to copy, distribute and transmit this content, but you must attribute the work to Mount Sinai Hospital, New York Visit www.mountsinai.org/menshealth for more information.