During the national observance of Men’s Health Month, Nevada Donor Network shares the importance of men proactively monitoring their own health. According to Men’s Health Network, dangerous occupations, failure to seek medical attention, lack of health insurance and poor habits are the top reasons why men tend to live with more illnesses. On average, they also tend to pass away younger at higher rates than women for nine of the top ten causes death.
Here is a list of the top 12 health concerns that men should ask their providers about:
- Cardiovascular Disease- Heart disease and stroke are associated with high cholesterol and high blood pressure. Both can usually be controlled with diet and exercise, but sometimes medication will be needed as well.
- Colorectal Cancer- Cancer of the colon and rectum can usually be treated if caught early. These cancers may be caused by diets high in fat and low in fiber.
- Depression- Men are less likely than women to seek help for depression and are four times as likely to die by suicide. Help can take the form of medication, therapy or a combination of both.
- Diabetes- You may have diabetes and not know it. It is not unusual for diabetes to go undetected for years. Men with diabetes are more likely to suffer from heart disease, kidney disease, stroke and vision problems.
- Erectile Disfunction- The revolution in thinking about male sexual dysfunction, following the introduction of Viagra, offers new hope for men suffering from erectile problems. This is most commonly caused by certain medications, diabetes, heart disease, lifestyle and more.
- Low Testosterone- As men age, their testosterone decreases. This can cause andropause, a condition like menopause in women, and may lead to depression, erectile dysfunction, fatigue, fragile bones and other problems.
- Lung Cancer- Lung cancer is the number one cancer killer of men but can be almost totally prevented if men make lifestyle changes and take certain precautions. Risk factors include chemical exposure, smoking and more.
- Osteoporosis- Osteoporosis, or loss of bone density, is usually thought of as a female disease, but is now recognized as something men can experience as well. If left untreated, this can lead to broken bones and permanent disability.
- Prostate Cancer- Approximately 30,000 men die of prostate cancer each year. All men should consider a baseline Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) blood test at age 40.
- Prostate Health- Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) and prostatitis are also concerns for men. Both cause the prostate to swell and can cause difficult and painful urination.
- Skin Cancer- Anyone who spends a lot of time in the sun is at risk for skin cancer. Other factors include exposure to certain chemicals, family history and repeated x-ray exposure.
- Testicular Cancer- Testicular cancer is the most common form of cancer in men ages 20-35 but can occur any time after the age of 15.
Men’s Health Network encourages men in the United States to take control of their health by getting yearly checkups from their healthcare provider. They believe your best chance of avoiding health problems that commonly afflict men are preventative medicine, regular physician visits and self-examination. These types of proactive behaviors can lead to catching many health ailments in an early stage when treatment is most likely to be successful.
As we wrap up Men’s Health Month, we would like to share the impact heroic donor Raquel Colucci had on others through her donation. Our team traveled with her husband, Gino, and their daughter, Melody, to Phoenix, Arizona to meet Raquel’s double lung recipient, Jose Graciano. Without her selfless gift, Jose would not be here today after the damage COVID-19 did to his lungs. View their story here:
We truly appreciate Dignity Health St. Joseph’s Hospital for collaborating with us on this meeting! Are you inspired to be a hero like Raquel? Register now!