Parent Magazines St Johns June 2022 | Page 30

Men , Lower Your Health Handicap

By Steven Miles , MD

Every golfer wants to improve their handicap and play better on the course . Often that means hitting the driving range , working on your short game or upgrading your equipment , but keeping your own health in check is vital on and off the course . Knowing what screening you need and why it ’ s important will keep your health handicap at even par .

Aortic Abdominal Aneurysm ( AAA ) – Men between the ages of 65 and 75 who have ever smoked should have an ultrasound screening for the presence of AAA . A smoking history greatly increases the risk of an undetected aneurysm that could rupture and often leads to death .
Prostate Cancer – Prostate cancer accounts for 25 % of all male cancers . Most cases of prostate cancer occur in men older than 50 and two out of three cases are in men over 65 . The American Cancer Society recommends that men begin prostate cancer screening at age 50 with an annual digital rectal exam of the prostate and possible PSA blood test . Men at high risk , such as African-American men or those with a close blood relative who had prostate cancer before age 65 , should begin screening at age 45 .
Colorectal Cancer - Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the US . Early detection can drastically reduce the likelihood you will die from the disease . At age 50 , men and women at average risk of developing colorectal cancer should talk to their doctor about scheduling a
CT colonography every five years with a colonoscopy every 10 years .
Diabetes - Diabetes is associated with long-term complications that affect almost every part of the body . If detected early enough , you can prevent or delay the onset of type 2 diabetes and its complications . Men and women should be screened for type 2 diabetes if their blood pressure is over 135 / 80 mm Hg .
High Blood Pressure - High blood pressure increases the risk of stroke , heart attack , heart failure and other problems . There are no symptoms of high blood pressure , so the only way to tell if you have high blood pressure is to have it checked at least once every two years .
High Cholesterol - High cholesterol causes most of the same problems as high blood pressure . Most healthy adults should have their cholesterol checked every four to six years . If you have a history of heart disease or diabetes or a family history of high cholesterol , you may need to get it checked more often .
Lung Cancer - Lung cancer is the third most common cancer and the leading cause of cancer-related death in the US . Adults from 55 to 80 who have smoked a pack a day for 30 years or more and currently smoke or have quit within the past 15 years have yearly low dose scans .
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