Attention to health and wellness is an important part of everyone’s life. But because of pressing demands and busy schedules, it’s easy to put off.
“It is crucial that men take ownership of their health to help maximize their physical, mental and emotional well-being,” said family medicine provider Josh Hadsell, DNP, APRN, CNP, who sees patients at the Sanford East Mandan Clinic in Mandan, North Dakota.
“This includes focusing on prevention and early detection of cardiovascular disease, neurodegenerative disease like Alzheimer’s, metabolic disease like diabetes, and cancers, and identifying and treating mental health disorders like anxiety and depression and receiving recommended vaccinations. Please contact your provider to schedule a time to discuss strategies to increase both your healthspan and lifespan.”
To help men understand the importance of preventive health, Sanford Health provides you a wellness visit, a toolkit of sorts to help men stay healthy and active. These visits are often covered by insurance once a year at no additional cost to you.
Your provider may talk with you about:
Heart screenings
Give yourself some peace of mind with a heart screening. It includes the following checkups.
Cardiac calcium score
This test is a computerized tomography (CT) scan. The test checks how much calcium, or plaque, has built up in your arteries. Plaque slowly collects over time and restricts blood flow to the muscles in your heart. It’s often the culprit behind a heart attack – plaque can burst apart and create a blood clot that fully blocks an artery.
After the test, you’ll receive your cardiac calcium score. The higher the score, the more plaque was detected.
Electrocardiogram (EKG)
For an EKG test, the test administrator will place sensors on your skin to record the electrical activity of your heart. This brief snapshot of your heart’s electrical activity can show if it is beating normally.
Body mass index (BMI)
Your BMI is calculated using your height and weight. By measuring BMI, your health care provider can help determine your risk of developing some diseases, including high blood pressure, coronary artery disease, stroke and some cancers.
Non-fasting cholesterol
Too much cholesterol in the body results in an increased risk of cardiovascular diseases, which can lead to a heart attack or stroke. Cholesterol can build up on arterial walls over time, which can cause less blood and oxygen to get to the heart.
Blood pressure
High blood pressure, also called hypertension, is a risk factor for heart disease, kidney disease and stroke. High blood pressure is especially dangerous because it often gives no warning signs or symptoms.
Framingham risk score
A Framingham risk score gives you a number that estimates your risk of having heart disease in the next 10 years. Your score will be determined by assessing your risk factors and personal health history such as:
- Age
- Sex
- Blood pressure
- Cholesterol
- Tobacco use
Immunizations
Think these shots are only for tots? Think again. It’s much easier and less expensive to prevent a disease rather than treat it. Some vaccines need to be given only once. Others require updates or “boosters” to maintain successful immunization and continued protection against disease.
It’s recommended that adults receive their COVID-19 vaccine and flu vaccine annually, and stay up to date on their Tdap boosters, plus other immunizations depending on your age, health, lifestyle, and travel plans.
Diabetes
A diabetes test calls for a blood sample from your finger or your arm. Your provider will perform a blood glucose test to determine the risk for developing diabetes, a disease that occurs when the body cannot regulate blood sugars.
Testosterone
Cordless drill not keeping its power? Check the battery.
Low testosterone affects millions of men in the U.S. Symptoms of low testosterone in men include decreased libido, loss of body and facial hair, weakened bones, increased body fat and feeling run down. A simple blood test can help identify if levels are low.
Other men’s health tools
Your provider may also discuss ways to stay healthy and recommend additional screenings based on your family history and risk factors including:
- Prostate cancer screening
- Skin health
- Oral health
- Mental health
- Eye and vision screening
- Colorectal cancer screening
- Vascular screening
- Lung cancer screening
Learn more
- Should you get a PSA screening?
- Talking to your son about puberty? Here’s how
- Preventive health screenings you should not postpone
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Posted In Cancer, Endocrinology, Family Medicine, Health Information, Healthy Living, Heart, Immunizations, Internal Medicine
