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(HealthNewsDigest.com) – When thinking about men’s health, many people tend to think about things that affect men as they age, such as an enlarged prostate or prostate cancer.
But many health threats can affect men no matter their age. The key to a good quality of life is to be proactive and seek medical attention early, says Dr. David Thiel, a Mayo Clinic urologist.
“When you look at men and their relationship with physicians, men don’t go to the doctor enough. They wait until something is wrong,” says Dr. Thiel.
The problem with waiting is that a man might be missing the early signs of another health issue. For example, erectile dysfunction is a common ailment that brings men to see their doctor. But Dr. Thiel notes that it may be an indicator of a more serious health condition.
“It’s important for men to know, especially younger men who have erectile dysfunction, that this condition is often associated with other medical conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, blood pressure problems and the like. So erectile dysfunction may not just be erectile dysfunction,” explains Dr. Thiel.
Watch: Dr. David Thiel talks about men’s health and preventive care.
“Women do a much better job of annual care for surveillance with things such as cervical cancer, breast cancer and so on. We want men to know it’s important for them to do the same. It’s important to seek care not only when something is wrong, but also for preventive care.”
While concerns about cancer bring many men to the doctor, “heart attack, stroke, diabetes, and hypertension are much more prevalent in the population than prostate cancer,” says Dr. Thiel.
“Men should have a PSA, or prostate-specific antigen, check if not every year, every two to three years, to establish a baseline for evaluation of possibly clinically significant prostate cancer in the future. But, really, starting at age 40, men should have an annual physical, and have their blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar checked.”
Based on age, family history and any symptoms, additional blood work to check hormone levels and a colonoscopy may be recommended. Dr. Thiel also suggests an annual flu vaccine and making sure other immunizations are up to date.
“It’s important for men to look at the overall big picture of their health to ensure a longer, better quality of life,” he says.