MASSENA, NY – Many women will agree that the men in their lives often need a little nudge when it comes to scheduling their annual health exams and routine tests.
June is Men’s Health Month, and St. Lawrence Health is assisting in reminding all men to connect with their primary care provider to get their wellness check-ups on the calendar.
Massena Hospital Internal Medicine specialist Nimesh Desai, MD, agreed that women are generally more pro-active in getting their annual exams and tests. He also noted there is often more public messaging regarding health care for women.
“In my opinion, there could be a larger focus and emphasize on men’s health care. There are medical problems which can be detected earlier and reduce the long-term complications when caught in their initial stages,” Dr. Desai said.
Heart conditions, lung disease, and colon cancers are seen more often in men than women. Dr. Desai noted men should have certain screenings on an annual basis, and others at longer intervals. He pointed out family history and/or existing medical conditions may call for some tests to be conducted more often.
Annually, men should have a routine physical exam, blood pressure and cholesterol screening, eye exam, dermatological skin screening, and dental cleaning. Dependent on age and whether or not a man is in a monogamous relationship, an HIV and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) testing may also be warranted. A colonoscopy to identify colorectal cancer, and a prostate specific antigen (PSA) blood test should both start at age 50.
Dependent on age, men should also be cognizant of getting vaccines for the flu, shingles, hepatitis A & B, human papillomavirus (HPV), and tetanus/diphtheria/pertussis (TdaP).
“Health is an asset. The better we take care of it, the healthier and happier life we can have to enjoy,” Dr. Desai said. “It may seem cumbersome to get the tests and exams to properly take care of ourselves, but in the long term, the rewards greatly outweigh any inconvenience.”
Contact your St. Lawrence Health primary care provider today, or find one online at https://www.stlawrencehealthsystem.org/search/providers. You can search for a Family Practice, or Internal Medicine specialist.
