Men’s Health Month: Lower Your Risk of Chronic Disease

Michelle M. Blain, DO

Adopt Healthy Habits

Doctors often counsel patients to decrease their risk of heart disease and diabetes, but many people don't follow through.

"The problem is that you can't feel those conditions developing," Blain said. "You can feel it if you have numbness or tingling in your feet, but you can't tell that you have diabetes, high blood pressure or high cholesterol before it becomes pretty advanced."

Lifestyle changes may help you reduce your risk of heart disease, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes and colon cancer: Modify your diet, become less sedentary, maintain a healthy weight, quit smoking and cut back on red meat and alcohol. Even small changes may be impactful.

"My biggest recommendation would be to move your body every day," Blain said. "A 30-minute walk can have significant effects on blood-sugar control, cholesterol and gradual weight loss."

You can enjoy foods that you love while tweaking your diet.

"If you eat fast food five times a week, decrease to three times a week," Blain said. "Allow yourself to have things in moderation."

Read: Heart Disease: When to Get a Second Opinion

Manage Your Prostate Health

As men get older, they experience prostate changes. An enlarged prostate, known as benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), may make it more difficult to urinate. Prostate cancer, the most commonly diagnosed cancer in men, is also a concern.

"BPH causes urinary difficulties such as a weaker urinary stream, urinary frequency, urinary urgency and even waking at night to urinate," said urologist Ariel Moradzadeh, MD. "Prostate cancer is a silent cancer. It typically does not manifest with symptoms."

Men should be screened for prostate cancer beginning at age 50, according to the American Urological Association. Black men and men with a family history of the disease should begin screenings at age 40-45. Screening includes a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test and a digital rectal exam.

Read: More Options to Treat Prostate Cancer

Ariel Moradzadeh, MD

Get Screened for Colon Cancer

Two years ago, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommended that all adults get screened for colon cancer starting at age 45 instead of 50, partly because people are being diagnosed younger. (People with a family history may need screenings even earlier.)

"Don't assume that you're too young to have colon cancer," said gastroenterologist Sadeea Abbasi, MD, PhD.

Colon cancer is the third-most diagnosed cancer in men. Patients have better outcomes when polyps are removed before becoming cancerous or when cancer is caught early. Both things can occur during colonoscopy.

Some men are hesitant to have such a private body part examined, so they may avoid screenings.

"The colon is a private area, something that people feel embarrassed about," Abbasi said. "But we take a very professional approach to the exam."

If you won't undergo colonoscopy, "at least get the stool test," Abbasi said. "There are many ways to screen for colon cancer."

Sadeea Q. Abbasi, MD, PhD

Mind Your Mental Health

Men are diagnosed with depression and anxiety less often than women are, possibly because men are less inclined to seek treatment. Sometimes, men don't realize that feelings such as anger or stress may be symptoms of anxiety or depression.

"Overwhelmingly, men are less likely to bring up mental health in conversation," Blain said. "They mention difficulty sleeping, frustration, anger or something else that's bothering them. We discuss that and see if it may be a manifestation of underlying depression or anxiety."

Some men don't seek help, assuming that they're tough enough to cope with depression or anxiety, but it isn't necessary to suffer.

"Seeking help for anything-whether it's mental health, concerns about your weight, a twisted ankle-it's never a sign of weakness," Blain said. "Managing mental health is important for your quality of life."

Reduce Your Skin Cancer Risk

Skin cancer is diagnosed more often in the U.S. than any other cancer. Most people get one of two skin cancers: Basal cell carcinoma or squamous cell carcinoma. Melanoma accounts for only 1% of skin cancers, but it, along with squamous cell carcinoma, causes the majority of skin cancer deaths.

Many men don't see a dermatologist for suspicious growths that don't hurt, itch or bleed.

"There isn't a physical complaint. It's just, 'I have this bump, and it's not going away,'" said dermatologist Nima Gharavi, MD, PhD. "I think men are more likely to leave that bump alone. I have a ton of male patients who say, 'My wife told me to come in because she's worried about this spot.'"

Most skin cancer arises on body parts that are exposed to the sun, including the head. Men who are bald or who shave their heads are at greater risk, because more skin is exposed.

Nima Gharavi, MD, PhD

"Hair protects against UV radiation-it's a form of sun protection," Gharavi said. "Not having hair leads to more sun damage on the scalp, which is visible in the form of age spots, precancerous lesions and a higher incidence of skin cancer. The way to mitigate it is by wearing hats and sunscreen regularly."

To reduce your risk of skin cancer, use sunscreen with at least SPF 30 and wear a hat, especially if your scalp is exposed.

Annual skin checks may catch skin cancer early, especially for people with fair skin or who work outdoors. If you don't get regular skin checks, seek advice when you see something abnormal.

"If something is changing, point it out to a dermatologist or your primary care doctor at a minimum," Gharavi said. "In the case of melanoma, early diagnosis saves lives. For non-melanoma skin cancers, early diagnosis can also lead to smaller surgeries, quicker healing and better cosmetic and functional results."

Read: What You Need to Know About Melanoma