Yearly Physicals Play a Key Role in Men’s Health

Primary Care Physicians Encourage Men to Make Regular Check-Ups a Habit

DAYTON, Ohio (July 25, 2011) –While the list of top health threats for men includes heart disease, cancer and stroke, some doctors believe the biggest threats to a man’s health are his own personal, everyday choices.

“Once men reach the age that they don’t require yearly physicals for school or sports, they will go years without seeing a doctor for a check-up,” said Dr. Joseph Allen of Family Medicine of Vandalia. “If it weren’t for wives, girlfriends, mothers and daughters, our practice would be half its size. In most cases, it’s the women that encourage the men in their lives to come in for check-ups every couple of years.”

Aches and pains that most men perceive to be minor could actually be early symptoms of a more serious condition. As a result, these health problems that could be detected during a routine physical at an early age may not be detected until much later in life. Consequently, these late-onset conditions require more serious and sometimes more aggressive treatments.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the leading cause of death in men is heart disease. Two of the major risk factors associated with heart disease are high blood pressure and high cholesterol, both of which can be addressed by a primary care physician.

 “Another excellent example of the importance of early detection for men is in the screening of prostate cancer,” said Allen. “Detection has come a long way in the past 15 years. Based on a patient’s medical history and potential risk factors for prostate cancer, primary care doctors can help determine the best course of action for screening.”

Prostate cancer is one of the most common types of cancer in men. According to the American College of Preventative Medicine, one in five men in the United States will develop prostate cancer. Early detection of diseases such as prostate cancer allows patients and their doctors to explore treatment options.

For men, regular check-ups with their primary care physicians are key to detecting and effectively treating health problems that could potentially affect them at all stages of their lives.

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