by DR. ALISON YOUNG-TAN
June is Men’s Health Month. Men’s health is as varied as men are as a demographic and can encompass a wide assortment of topics from chronic health conditions to fitness. The Department of Health in Polk County would like to inform Polk residents on screenings and check-ups that men should get throughout the years. Men older than 50 years old should have an annual physical exam and men younger than 50 are recommended to have a physical every three to five years. Catching potential health issues early and before they progress is a critical step in disease prevention.
In 2023, men in Polk County were found to die from heart disease at a rate of 178.7 per 100,000 of the population compared to women at 116.2. These rates are consistent with numbers from the state as well as the country. Heart disease accounts for one in four male deaths. So how can we combat it? First, it’s crucial to identify major risk factors for heart disease and to get screened regularly for those risk factors. High blood pressure, along with high cholesterol and diabetes, are major risk factors for heart disease.
Blood pressure can be an indicator for many health conditions. It is also the most common heart disease risk factor in the United States. However, it can be managed and controlled. Men should have their blood pressure checked at least every two years. Blood pressure should be checked more frequently if the individual has high blood pressure or is at greater risk for developing high blood pressure. An individual’s medical provider can advise on how frequent blood pressure screenings should be.
Like blood pressure, cholesterol levels are also an indicator of health. The American Heart Association recommends that adults be tested for high cholesterol every four to six years if their risk for heart disease is low. As with blood pressure, a medical provider would be able to help determine what a person’s risk factors are and whether they need to be tested more frequently than the standard recommendation.
People with diabetes are twice as likely to have heart disease. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends screening for abnormal blood glucose and type 2 diabetes in adults 35 to 70 years of age who are overweight or obese. Individuals with higher risk should be screened more frequently and a healthcare professional can help guide individuals on how often they should be screened.
Colon cancer is the second-leading cause of cancer death in the United States, but regular screening can detect it early before it progresses. The USPSTF recommends everyone, including men, begin colonoscopy screenings at 45 years of age and continue at least once every 10 years. Men with higher risk of colon cancer should begin getting colonoscopies earlier than 45 years and more often, after they discuss with their medical provider.
Prostate cancer is also one of the leading causes of cancer death among men in the United States. The prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test detects the rise of PSA levels in the blood, a rise that can be caused by prostate cancer and other benign conditions. The USPSTF recommends that men who are 55 to 69 years old should discuss with their medical provider whether they should take the PSA test. The USPSTF does not recommend that men older than 70 years be screened regularly.
Being up-to-date on regular screenings can help men tackle each decade of their lives with optimal health and well-being.
About the author: Dr. Alison Young-Tan, an internal medicine/pediatrics physician, currently serves the community as medical director for the Florida Department of Health in Polk County (DOH-Polk).