Three things every man should discuss with his doctor

June 16, 12:22 AMSF Health ExaminerRonitte Libedinsky

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According to the CDC, men are about half as likely as women to visit their doctor for preventative care, and this is part of the reason why men have a higher rate of death from certain diseases, such as heart disease and cancer, than women.

To decrease their risk of developing such diseases and to keep themselves healthy, men should have regular physical exams and be aware of certain issues that they should discuss with their doctor.

• Obesity: About 72% of American men over 20 years old are overweight or obese and are, therefore, at an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular disease.

You can easily determine if you’re among this majority by figuring out your body mass index (BMI; the calculation is kg/m2). A BMI >25 is considered overweight and a BMI >30 is considered obese.

The problem with using BMI to determine obesity is that it’s a measure of body fat, so people with a muscular build who weigh more because they have more muscle will have a higher BMI even though they are not overweight. So BMI does have its limitations, but it can be a useful tool for many people to help maintain or achieve a healthy weight.

• Prostate health: Prostate specific antigen (PSA) is a protein that’s produced in the prostate gland and is a good indicator of prostate health. Increased levels of PSA can be a sign of prostate cancer or of inflammation or enlargement of the prostate. 

The American Urological Association now suggests that men do not necessarily need to get a PSA test done every year, but it does recommend getting a baseline PSA test at 40 years old.

• Low testosterone levels: Symptoms of low testosterone levels include decreased libido, fatigue and depression. Testosterone therapy can improve these symptoms, and it may even reduce the risk of liver and cardiovascular diseases in men who have low levels of the hormone.

Testosterone levels are not regularly tested as part of a physical exam, but talk to your doctor if you’re experiencing any of the above symptoms.

For more information: Learn more about men's health from the Men's Health Network.

                                  Learn more about the prostate (women have one too!)