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Men: Schedule Important Health Screenings This Summer
Are you staying on schedule with your screenings this summer? From household chores to family trips, keeping tabs on your health can often fall by the wayside. That goes for regular screenings and checkups, which can provide a valuable warning to potential health issues.
Don’t let your list of chores and trips push your health to the backburner. Schedule these important healthcare screenings this summer and secure peace of mind for the future — and many more sunny days to come.
Prostate exam
According to the American Cancer Society, an estimated 268,490 new cases of prostate cancer will be diagnosed in 2022. In fact, 1 in 8 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer. But the good news is more than 3.1 million men who have been diagnosed are alive today, and if you catch the warning signs early on, you can survive as well.
Recognizing the symptoms is the first step. Prostate cancer symptoms may include any of the following:
- Problems urinating
- Blood in urine or semen
- Erectile dysfunction
- Pain in hips, back, chest, or other areas
- Weakness or numbness in legs and feet
- Loss of bladder of bowel control
If you experience any of these symptoms, first consult with your primary care provider on whether a prostate exam may be necessary. After speaking with your physician, you may be scheduled for a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test or a digital rectal exam (DRE) with Dr. Matthew Knudson, MD at the Culbertson Outpatient Specialty Clinics.
Heart Health Screening
“Cardiovascular disease” is a broad term used to describe a wide range of heart-related conditions, including heart disease, heart attack, stroke, heart failure, arrythmia, and heart valve problems. According to the World Health Organization, cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death worldwide, claiming an estimated 17.9 million lives every year. Conditions that put patients at high risk for cardiovascular disease include any of the following:
- High blood pressure
- High cholesterol
- Smoking
- Obesity
- Diabetes
- Physical inactivity
- Unhealthy diet
Thankfully, local help is available at the Culbertson Outpatient Specialty Clinics, where Prairie Heart Institute physicians provide several heart health including cardiac stress tests and echocardiograms.
Colorectal Cancer Screening
The American Cancer Society reports colorectal cancer as the third-most common cancer diagnosed in the United States, excluding skin cancers. An estimated 106,180 new cases of colon cancer will be diagnosed in 2022, while an additional 44,850 cases of rectal cancer are estimated. The rate of colorectal cancer diagnosis has dropped since the 1980s thanks largely to early detection awareness, though the rate has risen in patients younger than 50.
Remember, up to 90% of colorectal cancer cases can be prevented with early screening. This means scheduling a colonoscopy with Dr. John Bozdech, MD or Dr. Harsha Polavarapu, MD at the Culbertson Outpatient Specialty Clinics. This half-hour procedure allows physicians to remove pre-cancerous polyps before they turn into more serious problems. Best of all, patients are sedated through the entire procedure.