Men’s Health at Gateway

June is Men’s Health Month which means it’s time to schedule your preventative health visits. Men’s biggest challenges with accessing healthcare include not liking doctors, thinking symptoms will improve on their own and fearing a tough diagnosis. However, these things don’t mitigate the need for preventative care. Why not take a few minutes right now to schedule your annual health check-up?  

Here are a few things to discuss with your medical provider at your next appointment. 

Kidney stones can happen to anyone but are more likely to occur in men. One reason kidney stones can form is from a lack of hydration. Kidney stones are made up of chemicals, minerals and salts that are considered waste by your body. Staying hydrated helps to flush these substances from your system but a chronic lack of hydration can cause them to build up.  

Family history, diet and various medical conditions can also make your body more prone to develop these painful stones. 

Heart disease is more common in men than women, and men will tend to encounter it from it about a decade earlier than women will as well. Common factors such as diet and lifestyle contribute to heart disease, as well as chronic stress levels. Erectile dysfunction, which is a result of blood flow issues, can be an early indicator of impending heart disease. 

Preventative cancer screenings are vital as men age. Lung cancer, colon cancer, testicular cancer and prostate cancer each have a specific screening that helps to catch problematic issues before they spread. This is an important item to discuss with your medical provider at your preventative healthcare visit, particularly if you are at increased risk due to family history, lifestyle or genetics. Your medical provider can also show you how to perform self-checks and to know what kinds of symptoms to be on the lookout for. 

High blood pressure can lead to a host of other medical challenges so identifying and addressing it early is important to your overall health. There are several medications that are useful in reducing high blood pressure, but oftentimes lifestyle shifts such as diet and exercise can be effective as well while reducing your reliance on medication.  

Men’s health is an important focus here at Gateway. We would love to support you in getting back on track in your healthcare journey. We know that preventative healthcare helps keep small health issues from growing into large ones and keeps you feeling healthy in the long run. If you have concerns about any of the above issues, or anything else, reach out to us today.