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It's A Man Thing
While Prostate and Testicular cancers are health problems that only men can get, the potential problems don't stop there. Men are also at greater risk of dying from HIV/AIDS, skin cancer, lung cancer and motor vehicle accidents in Berkeley, Charleston and Dorchester counties than women.
According to the 2000 U.S. Census, men represent 49.1% of the population in our three counties. Yet, over a 6-year period, from 1999-2004, they represented 67% of all deaths from skin cancer, almost 77% of the deaths from HIV/AIDS, over 58% of the deaths from lung cancer and 71.2% of the deaths from motor vehicle accidents in these same counties.
But there is something that you can do about it. Many of these diseases are preventable with some simple lifestyle changes:
- Want to close the gap on lung cancer? Quit smoking (which will help your heart, too).
- Want to reduce the risk of getting HIV? Practice safe sex.
- Want to reduce the risk of dying in a car accident? Wear a seat belt.
- Want to reduce the risk of getting skin cancer? Wear sunscreen.
While women have historically been more attuned to health care, men need to realize they need screenings too in order to live longer and healthier lives. Here are a few of the medical exams all men should have in addition to regular testicle and prostate exams:
- The American Cancer Society recommends an annual skin examination for anyone aged 40 or older.
- The American Medical Association recommends that people ages 40 to 64 get their eyes examined by an ophthalmologist every two years. For those over 65, the AMA recommends yearly exams. The exams should include tests for glaucoma, macular degeneration and cataracts.
- The American Diabetes Association recommends a fasting plasma glucose test every three years for people aged 45 or older. If you have high risk factors (a family history of diabetes, obesity, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, are African-American, Native American or Hispanic) you may need to be tested more often.
- The American Cancer Society recommends colon cancer screenings for both men and women from age 50 on who are at "average" risk (no family or personal history of colon cancer or intestinal polyps) as follows:
- A fecal occult blood test every year
- A flexible sigmoidscopy every five years
- Double contrast barium enema every five years
- Colonscopy every 10 years
- The American Medical Association recommends a electrocardiogram every 3 to 5 years for anyone who has two or more of the risks related to heart disease (family history, smoking, high cholesterol, diabetes and/or high blood pressure).
- The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommends a pneumonia vaccination for anyone 50 or older.