Family Health Magazine - Spring/Summer 2001 - Saint Barnabas Medical Center

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Family Health Magazine - Spring/Summer 2001

MEN'S HEALTH: A Prescription for Better Living

According to the American Association of Family Practitioners, health screenings and other tests are becoming an important part of individualized medical care. Instead of every person getting the same exams and tests, only the appropriate ones are given based on discussions with your physician about your risk factors and what tests and exams are right for you.

For adult men, those 18 and older, a yearly physical probably includes a check of their weight, cholesterol levels and blood pressure. It may also include an examination of the testicles, as the American Cancer Society includes this examination in its recommendations for routine cancer-related checkups. Other issues that may be discussed include the importance of diet and exercise, testing for prostate cancer and avoiding alcohol, tobacco, drugs and sexually transmitted diseases.

"Through a yearly physical, the patient and physician can begin a continuum of care that is an important part of disease prevention," says Stephen Parker, D.O., Clinical Chairperson for the Department of Family Practice at Saint Barnabas Medical Center.

Cancer Screening

Prevention and early detection are two of the most important and effective strategies for reaching the American Cancer Society's goal of saving as many lives as possible and diminishing suffering due to cancer. Early detection, sometimes referred to as secondary prevention or screening, includes examinations and tests intended to find cancer as early as possible when it can be treated most effectively.

The American Cancer Society has established that early detection examinations can help to save men's lives from cancers of the colon, rectum, prostate, testicles, mouth and skin. The five-year relative survival rate, or percentage of people alive at least five years after diagnosis of cancer, is 81 percent for people with cancers for which the American Cancer Society has specific early detection recommendations.

"Through physical examination by a physician, combined with the use of tests such as the prostate-specific antigen or PSA blood test, patients have an effective strategy for early detection of cancer," says Andrew Zablow, M.D., Vice Chairman of the Radiation Oncology Department at Saint Barnabas Medical Center.

Vision Care

Another area of importance in regard to early detection is vision care. The Glaucoma Foundation reports that while glaucoma can develop in younger patients, it occurs more frequently with age and is of special concern to those over age 45.

Through a visit to an ophthalmologist, you can be screened for this specific pattern of optic nerve damage and visual field loss caused by a number of different eye diseases.

"The most important thing you can do to protect your vision from glaucoma is to have regular eye exams," says Peter Nussbaum, M.D., attending ophthalmologist and Chairman of the Ophthalmology Department at Saint Barnabas. "If your ophthalmologist finds that you have the disease or that you are at risk, he or she can recommend treatment to minimize the risks or the effects."

There are a few conditions related to this disease which tend to put people at greater risk: you are over 45 and have not had your eyes examined regularly; someone in your family has a history of glaucoma; you have abnormally high intraocular pressure; are of African descent; have diabetes; have myopia (nearsightedness); have long-term steroid/cortisone use; or have a previous eye injury.

Diabetes Update

Diabetes is another disease where patients can benefit greatly from early detection. According to the American Diabetes Association, people often have the disease for about five years before they show the symptoms. By this time, many individuals already have eye, kidney, gum or nerve damage. For those with risk factors, a screening for diabetes may be indicated.

"You are at risk for developing diabetes if you are older than 45, overweight, sedentary, have a parent, brother or sister with diabetes, or if you are African-American, Hispanic, Native American, Asian or are a Pacific Islander," says George Gewirtz, M.D., Medical Director of the Joslin Center for Diabetes at the Saint Barnabas Ambulatory Care Center (SBACC).

AGE MEDICAL EXAM WHO TO SEE HOW OFTEN

Age	Medical Exam	Who To See	How Often
18+	Dental examination	Dentist	Every 6 months
	Skin cancer examination	Primary physician or dermatologist	Every 3 years between 20 and 40, then annually
	Testicular examination	Primary physician	Once a year
	Hypertension screening/blood pressure check	Primary physician	Every 1-2 years
	Baseline cholesterol check	Primary physician	Every 1-3 years
30+	all of the above, plus:
30+	Glaucoma check	Ophthalmologist	Every 2 years
35+	all of the above, plus:
35+	Heart test, including EKG stress treadmill test for heart function	Cardiologist	As physician recommends for sedentary individuals who want to exercise, or those with risk factors or symptoms
40+	all of the above, plus:
40+	Blood glucose for diabetes	Primary physician	Once a year
50+	all of the above, plus:
	Thyroid screening	Primary physician	Once a year
	Screenings for colorectal cancer	Primary physician	Once a year
	Screenings for prostate cancer	Primary physician	Once a year
60+	all of the above, plus:
60+	Flu shot and pneumococcal vaccine	Primary physician	Flu shot annually; vaccine once
*THOSE WITH RISK FACTORS FOR ANY OF THE ABOVE MENTIONED CONDITIONS MAY REQUIRE SCREENING EARLIER THAN THOSE WITHOUT RISK FACTORS. All EXAMS AND SCREENINGS SHOULD BE DISCUSSED WITH YOUR PHYSICIAN. Sources: John's Hopkins' Family Health Book, Good Living Magazine, SBMC physicians

For more information about any of the tests or screenings described, you may call the following departments. The Cancer Center of Saint Barnabas can be reached at (973) 322-5200. To find a Saint Barnabas ophthalmologist, please call 1-888-SBMC-DOC. The Joslin Center for Diabetes at the SBACC can be reached at (973) 322-7200.

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