Conditions to Be Aware of During Men’s Health Month
It’s important for men to be proactive when it comes to taking care of their mental and physical health. It’s a fact that of the 15 leading causes of death in the US, men die at higher rates for all of them except Alzheimer’s disease. Instead of thinking of this information as a cause for alarm or panic, men should think of it as motivation to be more conscious of their health and the choices they make that affect it. In honor of Men’s Health Month this June, our healthcare providers wanted to take some time to discuss some of the most common health conditions for men and how they can be prevented.
Prostate Cancer
Unlike many other health conditions, prostate cancer is exclusive to men. Prostate cancer is the most common cancer for men other than skin cancer, with nearly 200,000 new cases diagnosed annually. Although prostate cancer diagnosis is common, thankfully, the mortality rate for this type of cancer is relatively low since it does not often spread quickly. However, it’s still critically important to catch and treat prostate cancer as early as possible. We do this with annual PSA (Prostate-Specific Antigen) blood testing during annual exams as well as an in-office prostate exam.
Heart Disease
Cardiovascular disease is still the number one cause of death for men (and women) in the US. For men with heart disease, excess cholesterol can gradually block the arteries in the heart and brain. This can lead to the formation of blood clots that block the artery and cause a heart attack or stroke. It is very important for men to eat a healthy, heart-friendly diet and exercise regularly. Annual testing of key heart disease indicators like cholesterol and blood pressure are also of the utmost importance.
Lung Cancer
Although the rates of lung cancer have dropped in recent years as more and more people drift away from smoking, lung cancer remains the leading cancer killer of men in the US. This is largely due to the fact that lung cancer is highly aggressive and typically spreads very early. In many cases, lung cancer spreads before a person even begins to exhibit symptoms. The best way to reduce your risk of developing lung cancer is to avoid smoking and secondhand smoke. We also recommend eating a healthy diet and exercising regularly to promote a strong immune system.
Undergoing an annual male exam at Abraham Family Medicine can be a highly beneficial preventative health measure for men of all ages. During the exam, we will perform a standard physical examination as well as various other tests to effectively gauge the overall scope of the patient’s health. For more information or if you would like to schedule an appointment, please contact Abraham Family Medicine today. We offer a wide variety of general healthcare services for people of all ages at our Snellville office, located very close to Grayson, Dacula, and Lilburn.
New to the 
One of the most noticeable changes to the skin during the winter is excessive dryness. As the humidity outside decreases so does the moisture in our skin. Indoor heaters may feel warm and cozy, but that too is drying our skin and leaving it dull and aged. Luckily, a combination of rock-star medical grade skincare products and anti-aging treatments can help restore your skin’s luster. This month we are featuring chemical peels and DermWORX™ skincare products for our January skincare specials!
