Citizens Memorial Hospital | Vitality | Summer 2016

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6 VITALITY Summer 2016
COMMUNITY
Heart 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.
Nearly 1 in 3 men has high blood pressure, a
significant risk factor for heart disease and stroke,
according to the U.S. Department of Health and
Human Services (HHS).
Likewise, almost half of all men
will develop some form of cancer in
their lifetimes, reports the American
Cancer Society.
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 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.
SCREENINGTESTS
Screenings can find diseases early, when they may be
more effectively treated.
What follows are some of the tests HHS and other
experts suggest for men. But talk with your doctor.
You might need to be screened earlier or more often.
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 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.
Take
charge
of your
health
Good health starts
with a trip to a doctor,
something men do
much less often than
make
an appointment
with a primary care
provider, call the CMH
Information Center at
417-328-6010.
MEN’S HEALTH