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Men’s Guide to Wellness

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Just as even the best cars need maintenance, men need regular care and checkups to keep their bodies working smoothly. Particularly in areas like the reproductive system and heart, guys can face health risks unique to their gender. But, by paying attention to medical tune-ups, men can help ensure a lifetime of wellness – including good physical, mental and sexual performance.

Start With Primary  Care

All men should have a primary care physician to oversee basic health needs. Even healthy men should have regular primary-care visits to catch any problems early – every two years if under 40, annually after that.

“The conversation between doctor and patient is often the most important part of the routine visit,” says Daniel J. Hyman, DO, Head of the Division of General Internal Medicine at Cooper University Health Care.

“We discuss what’s bothering them – whether its knee pain, heart symptoms, obesity, sexual difficulties or some other concerns,” says Dr. Hyman. “I can then start helping them address these issues.”

Your primary care physician also will steer you to important preventive services. These include screening tests for common conditions – from diabetes to heart disease to colon cancer – and vaccines that prevent dangerous illnesses, like the flu, pneumonia and tetanus.

If a problem is found, your doctor may order more tests, start you on a treatment plan or refer you to a specialist. The exact course will depend on the issue and the level of care needed.

Two of the most common types of specialists seen by men are urologists, who deal with the male reproductive system and urinary tract, and cardiologists, who address issues related to the heart and blood vessels.

Protect  Sexual and Urinary  Health

Men can face a variety of urologic issues, including:

  • Erectile dysfunction – difficulty getting or keeping an erection.
  • Low testosterone level.
  • Prostate diseases, such as enlarged prostate, infection or cancer.

Erectile dysfunction (ED) can have several possible causes, which may be linked to other health issues.

“It’s very important for men with ED to get tested for any potential underlying problems,” says Allen D. Seftel, MD, Head of Cooper’s Division of Urology. “The earlier we catch conditions like diabetes and heart disease, the better we can protect men’s health.”

In men under 40, for instance, ED is often triggered by diabetes, which can damage the nerves and blood vessels that enable erections. Other causes can include Peyronie’s disease – a curve in the penis that typically results from injury. In older men, notes Dr. Seftel, ED can be a sign of clogged blood vessels, which can lead to a heart attack or stroke.

If a man has ED, he should first see his primary care physician for a comprehensive evaluation. If any heart-related results appear abnormal, he may be referred to a cardiologist for more testing or treatment.

“Low testosterone, which can naturally start around age 40, may also cause ED. In such cases, a healthier lifestyle can work wonders,” says Dr. Seftel, “Losing excess weight, exercising regularly, eating a heart-healthy diet and quitting smoking can reverse some ED and low testosterone.” Drugs, such as Viagra and Cialis, can also help men with ED.

Low testosterone can have other effects, too, including loss of strength, energy and sex drive. Men must weigh the risks and benefits of treatment, which involves taking replacement hormones.

“It depends on what the man wants and how much his symptoms bother him,” says Dr. Seftel.

An enlarged prostate (benign prostatic hyperplasia or BPH) is also a normal part of men’s aging process. As the prostate expands, it can cause urination and bladder problems.

If a man has BPH symptoms – such as a weak urine stream or waking at night to urinate – he should be tested to rule out a urinary tract infection, kidney or bladder stones or prostate cancer.

As with low testosterone, whether to treat BPH is usually a matter of personal preference. However, in men with BPH and ED, a low daily dose of Cialis often is effective to treat both conditions. Moreover, a healthy lifestyle may help stave off BPH.

Prostatitis, an infection of the prostate, becomes more likely as men age. It’s important to treat it early – typically with antibiotics – before it worsens or causes other health problems.

Prostate cancer, the second most common form of cancer among men, can often be treated successfully. However, screening is contro- versial, and men should discuss the pros and cons with their doctor.

If a man chooses to be screened, he should start regular prostate- specific antigen (PSA) blood tests at age 50; earlier for African Americans and those with a close relative who had prostate cancer.

If a man has an elevated PSA level, he may require further testing. A new type of prostate biopsy technology, MRI-targeted fusion biopsy, is helping doctors more accurately find prostate cancer. The Cooper Urologic Institute is one of just a few area centers to offer this breakthrough.

Safeguard Your Heart                                       

Heart disease is the No. 1 killer, causing one in every four male

deaths – including many with no previous symptoms. The good news is that men can protect their heart health by taking these steps:

  • Adopt a heart-healthy lifestyle, including 45 minutes of walking (or a comparable activity) most days, a balanced diet (such as the Mediterranean diet), loss of excess weight, no smoking and limited alcohol.
  • Visit your primary care physician for regular screenings, including blood pressure and cholesterol.
  • See a primary care physician or a cardiologist if you have multiple risks for heart disease, such as diabetes, obesity, high cholesterol and smoking; or heart symptoms, such as chest pain or shortness of breath.

If your doctor prescribes heart medication that interferes with your sexual activity, speak up, advises Fredric L. Ginsberg, MD, Interim Co-Director of the Cooper Heart Institute.

“Different medications can be substituted that won’t cause erectile dysfunction,” says Dr. Ginsberg. “Don’t just stop taking your heart medicine.”

Men with heart disease can usually be treated effectively enough to safely enjoy normal sexual functioning and other physical activities, Dr. Ginsberg notes.

Remember, you wouldn’t expect your car to run indefinitely without visits to the mechanic. Take that same approach to your body so that you, too, can go the distance.

Cooper primary care physicians, urologists and cardiologists have offices throughout South Jersey. To find a doctor or make an appointment, call 1.800.8.COOPER (1.800.826.6737) or visit CooperHealth.org.


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