If It Ain't Broke; Don't Fix It!

The credence of most men, when it comes to their health, is, "if it ain't broke; don't fix it!" It is usually the nagging wife or mother that pushes them through the doorway of their doctor's office, or undeniable and painful or incapacitating symptoms. Preventative screening is an oxymoron because most men don't start getting screened until a problem has already surfaced. If you think I am being harsh on men for their "taking care of business" mentality, I am, but it is of the utmost importance. Their health, happiness, and well-being depend on it.

Some of the most common health concerns that men are faced with are: heart disease, cancer (lung and prostate), high blood pressure, diabetes, stroke, obesity, low testosterone levels, and depression. Many of the more serious side effects from these ailments could be avoided with early detection. For instance, prostate cancer may remain silent (without symptoms) during the early stages of the illness when treatment is most effective; in fact, at this stage prostate cancer is considered curable. By the time symptoms start to appear, the condition may have progressed outside of the prostate gland and spread to other organs, causing disability and sometimes resulting in death. It is estimated that about one of every 10 men will develop this form of cancer; every man over 40 or if they have a family history should know they are at risk and it is recommended that they get screened for prostate cancer at least once a year. It should also be noted that lung cancer is the number one cause of cancer in men as well as the most avoidable one, so quit smoking!

Know this; however, it is not all that scary. One of the primary concerns of men is prostate health. Prostate cancer is not the only health concern for the prostate gland and just because a man may experience other prostate complications, short term or long term, does not mean that he will inevitably have cancer. One of the common problems in men age 50 and older is prostatitis (acute or chronic). Prostatitis is an infection of the prostate caused by bacteria. Unlike prostate cancer, symptoms appear right away and include: fever, chills, or pain in the lower back and pelvic pain. Another common prostate problem in men over 50 is benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), which is an enlarged prostate. Over time about 80% of men have enlarged prostates, but may not suffer from any symptoms. Symptoms of BPH consist of difficulty urinating, which can lead to an inability to empty the bladder and possibly lead to other bladder and kidney malfunctions. Knowing that these are very common male health issues, taking proactive measures such as screenings (digital rectal exams) and treating the body right through exercise, diet and supplementation may prevent the man from having any severe prostate problems.

It is so important for men to take the time to take care of themselves, namely their health, and to pay attention to signs and symptoms early on. Men suffer from depression, not as often as women, but it is more common in older men. Unfortunately, many men do not seek help and as a result there are more serious consequences involved. Men who suffer from diabetes as well as erectile dysfunctions (ED) may also have an undiagnosed case of coronary artery disease (CAD). CAD can remain symptomless, but nonetheless very dangerous while undiagnosed. The bottom line is that all symptoms merit communication with the managing physician. Something that may seem insignificant may be an early indicator of something more serious that needs attention and if caught early enough can be controlled with minimal discomfort. The reality is, it may need fixing even if it doesn't seem broke.

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