One of my favorite parts of practicing medicine is feeling like I made a difference in a patient’s life. But to make that impact, I first need a patient to come in and see me on a regular basis. In my practice, I often see men struggle with routinely coming in for their primary care appointments, and this is backed by data. The Cleveland Clinic has found that over half of men say they do not get regular health screenings. This finding is significant as detection and prevention are our key components to stopping or managing disease and critical to staying on top of your health.
I tell my male patients that just like performing maintenance on your car, to keep your body running efficiently you must take care of it. Getting your oil changed, washing your vehicle, and taking it to the mechanic before problems start isn’t that different from eating healthy, exercising, and not skipping out on your next primary care appointment.
One of the concerns I often hear from men is about the invasive nature of some preventive screenings. If it has been a while since your last primary care appointment, you may be surprised to learn that many of the exams for patients, including those specific for men, are less invasive than you think. Here is more information on some of those screenings to help you feel confident going into your next checkup.
Colon Cancer Screening
Colon cancer, also known as colorectal cancer, is a disease that impacts the large intestine. Colon cancer is more common in men than women. Screening is recommended for most people starting at the age of 45, but risk factors like family history or other diseases could mean you need to be tested sooner. If your doctor recommends you be screened for colon cancer, you may undergo a stool test, flexible sigmoidoscopy, or colonoscopy.
Prostate Cancer Screening
While all men are at risk for prostate cancer, some men will have an increased risk based on factors including age, family history, inherited gene mutations, and diet. In fact, African American men are more likely to get prostate cancer. While preventive screening allows doctors to find prostate cancer early and help prevent it from spreading, it is important for men to make an individual decision about being screened for prostate cancer with a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test. Having an open conversation with your doctor about the benefits and harms of screening for prostate cancer is the recommended first step.
Screenings Based on Other Conditions
Each patient is unique based on family history, lifestyle factors, and conditions you’re currently managing. That is why it is so important to see your primary care doctor to determine which conditions you should be screened. For example, if you have a history of smoking, you may undergo screenings for lung cancer and abdominal aortic aneurysm. If you are currently managing diabetes, it’s important for your doctor to have you undergo routine eye, foot, and kidney exams.
Keeping an eye out for signs of mental health conditions like depression, struggles with alcohol/drug abuse, signs of cognitive issues, or a patient’s fall risk are all additional concerns doctors like me consider when screening a patient. At your primary care checkup, you can also expect other common preventive services from your provider, such as checking your blood pressure, making sure you’re up to date on vaccinations (shots), and more.
When patients leave my office, our work is just getting started to keep them healthy. I’m fortunate to work with a team of advanced practice providers (APPs)*, medical assistants, social workers, and more that all contribute to a patient’s care plan. At the center of this plan is one question: what kind of preventive services do they need to help them achieve what ‘well’ means for them?
While many of us work hard to take care of the things we own, like our cars, it’s important to recognize that we also need to take care of ourselves. None of us want our vehicle to break down because we neglected to prevent wear and tear, and the same is true with our bodies. Seeing your primary care doctor annually will help you to detect and prevent potential health problems and help you live a healthier life. today with your primary care doctor.
Dr. Diego De la Mora is a primary care physician in El Paso, Texas at Village Medical. His clinical interests include diabetes, hypertension, preventive medicine, population health, clinical informatics, quality improvement, and telemedicine.
*An advanced practice provider is defined as a nurse practitioner or physician assistant.