Posted: 6/25/2018
June is Men’s Health Month
Garland residents Andres Estrada, 72, and Ronald Hunt, 65, have a few things in common – they both describe themselves as ‘tough guys’ and, in the past, avoided doctors at all costs. But it was different circumstances and health conditions that led them to Parkland Health & Hospital System in search of help.
In 2004 after an emergency hospitalization, months of dialysis and a kidney transplant, Estrada came to a painful realization. “I should have visited the doctor more often before I became seriously ill. I’m a stubborn man,” he laughed.
In 2008, Hunt came to a similar conclusion. He too ended up in Parkland’s emergency department where doctors detected a hernia, kidney issues and, later, glaucoma. “I kept fighting it all,” he said.
For most men, a tough exterior and a macho attitude may cause more harm than good when it comes to their health. According to physiology researchers at Rutgers University, men who hold traditional beliefs about masculinity (i.e., associating masculinity with being tough, brave and self-reliant) are more likely to ignore medical problems. National Men’s Health Month is observed each June and Parkland providers want to encourage men to take steps to be healthier.
“It’s a great time to remind the men in your life to visit their doctor,” said Yair Lotan, MD, Medical Director of the Urology Clinic at Parkland and Professor of Urology at UT Southwestern Medical Center.
The most common health issues experienced by men include heart disease, cancer, unintentional injuries (such as road traffic injuries, poisoning, falls, fire and burn injuries, and drowning), chronic lower respiratory diseases, stroke and diabetes, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The CDC estimates heart disease kills an average of 321,000 men each year, the equivalent of one in every four male deaths.
The second leading cause of death among men is cancer. According to Dr. Lotan, aside from non-melanoma skin cancer, prostate cancer is the most common cancer among men in the United States, killing 28,343 men each year. “We want our patients to seek information about this form of cancer and the importance of screenings that could help save their lives. The good news is that most men who are appropriately screened are diagnosed with curable disease. Also, some men are found to have non-aggressive disease and don’t need treatment and can just be monitored.”
“Many of these conditions can be avoided,” said Noel O. Santini, MD, Senior Medical Director of Ambulatory Services at Parkland. “Prevention is a very important aspect of care. Men should be aware of symptoms of potentially serious conditions.”
Some of the symptoms men should not ignore include:
• Chest pain – a symptom of a heart attack that can also indicate other problems such as angina, pneumonia, pulmonary embolism or asthma.
• Shortness of breath – could signal heart disease or lung disease. This symptom is also common with diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), chronic bronchitis, emphysema or pulmonary hypertension.
• Fatigue – can result from physical exertion, lack of sleep or stress, but it can also indicate more serious physical health conditions, including congestive heart failure, diabetes, arthritis, infections or cancer, as well as kidney or liver disease.
• Blood in urine – may be a sign of bladder, prostate or kidney problems.
• Excessive thirst – can be a prominent symptom of diabetes.
• Vision problems – are not always related to aging; they can indicate other problems such as glaucoma, cataracts, diabetic retinopathy or macular degeneration.
Dr. Santini said men should establish a relationship with a primary care provider and visit their healthcare provider regularly, even if they feel healthy. Those visits should include risk assessments for future medical problems, screenings for cancer, (including testicular, colon, prostate, skin and other cancers), vaccination updates and conversations about healthy diet/lifestyle choices. In addition, medical experts suggest men of all ages should get to know their numbers for blood pressure, body mass index, triglycerides, cholesterol and blood glucose and have them checked regularly.
Now, Estrada and Hunt have another thing in common; they understand the value of preventive and proactive medical care.
“I didn’t like going to doctors and I don’t accept help very often. But that time I did and I’m grateful for the medical care I received,” Hunt said.
For more information about services available at Parkland, visit www.parklandhospital.com