June is National Men’s Health Month in the United States, so our team of board-certified primary care providers at CareOne Internal Medicine and Primary Care thought it would be a good idea to tackle some health concerns we feel all men should have on their radar.
As specialists in men’s health, we have a unique understanding of the many conditions that develop in men. We also understand the value of taking a preventive approach to men's health, which starts with understanding the issues that can affect men. We look at six common ones here.
As men’s health issues go, this is a big one and affects between 30 million and 50 million men in the US. Erectile dysfunction is defined as the inability to achieve and maintain an erection for sexual intercourse.
The most common driver of ED is an issue with blood flow to the penis, which is critical for an erection, so the presence of ED can actually be an early warning sign of bigger cardiovascular issues, which brings us to the next issue.
Nearly half of adults in the US have some form of cardiovascular disease, and the burden is split fairly evenly between men and women. So both genders should be highly concerned about CVD.
The good news is that there’s a lot of work we can do in this area to improve your health and, more importantly, prevent more serious heart disease from developing.
Overall, about 12% of adults in the US have diabetes, and the numbers on the male side of the ledger are slightly higher. Having a good awareness of diabetes is important because once you cross over into diabetes, health complications can soar.
Through vigilant oversight, we can track key numbers to help you stay one step ahead of this disease.
Slightly more than 40% of adults in the US have obesity, which is now being considered a standalone condition, as well as a major contributor to other health issues, such as CVD and diabetes.
The good news is that we have more great resources than ever to help patients lose weight and keep it off, including GLP‑1 medications used for weight management.
Nearly 160,000 colorectal cancers are diagnosed each year in the US, with men slightly outpacing women. The good news here is that we have very effective screening tools for colorectal cancer, and we recommend that all men take advantage of them.
We see many men who are struggling with prostate issues, starting with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), which affects half of men by the age of 60.
More seriously, one in eight men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer during their lifetime.
Between BPH and prostate cancer, this is an area of health that we should monitor closely, which can be done through screenings and regular visits.
Of course, there are more health issues that men should be aware of and track closely, but this is a good start.
The next best step is to schedule your wellness visit with us so we can make sure we’re tracking these health issues and others. To set that up, please contact us at one of our CareOne Internal Medicine and Primary Care locations in Houston or Katy, Texas.
