Nutrition. Vitamins. You.
When you hear the term “the plague” it is common that you automatically think back to grade school when you learned about its history and how it wiped out about 60% of Europe’s population in the 14th century. Historians and researchers now know that the …
As one of the biggest threats to your overall health, sugar is one part of your diet that many dieticians and nutritionists say you should completely eliminate. When consumed in large quantities, sugar can lead to obesity and diabetes, just to name a few. But …
We all know that there are certain parts of our health we can’t ignore — whether it’s getting an annual health check-up, going to the dentist every 6 months, or picking up a prescription you may need to take. But what about those medical checks that we don’t need to routinely have? How many people actually go to the doctors when they notice something different about their body? It is not a secret that men are less likely to see their doctors on a regular basis than women. However, skipping that visit to the doctor can leave you unprotected and unprepared for some conditions that might already be harming your body without your knowledge. While most men think they do not need to visit their doctor because they feel perfectly fine, prevention is the key to maintaining your body’s greatest health.
Men, here are the top 6 men’s health screenings you should have done as soon as possible.
Blood Pressure Test
The National Institute of Health recommends that men between the ages of 18 and 64 be screened at least once every two years. Depending on how high the results of the test are, your doctor may advise for more frequent testing. Jennifer Landa, MD, a preventative medicine specialist explains, “The optimal blood pressure ranges are getting tighter. Optimal is now considered less than 120/80, and 110/70 has been shown in some studies to be the blood pressure associated with better clinical outcomes.”
Cholesterol Test
This test is a simple blood test that should be done once every five years. If you are over 45 years old, at a high risk of heart disease or have high levels of “bad” cholesterol levels, you may need more frequent testing. Optimal cholesterol is less than 200 milligrams per deciliter. Visit your doctor to go over your families medical history to see if you are at a high risk of developing heart disease or high cholesterol.
Prostate Cancer Screening
A prostate cancer screening is done by measuring the level of PSA in the blood. An optimal level is usually considered to be under 4ng/mL. Landa notes, “The necessity of the PSA test has recently been questioned, but since its institution, we have seen a 40 percent decline in the rate of prostate cancer. On the other side of the coin, because the test is not specific for just prostate cancer and PSA levels can be raised by other conditions, some question whether it leads to unnecessary intervention when there is a false positive.” Another screening option for this test is a digital rectal exam, where the doctor physically checks the rectum for signs of cancer. Speak with your regular physician about which method is best for you.
Colon Cancer Screening
Perhaps one of the most avoided screenings by men (and the second leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States) is colon cancer. According to the American Cancer Society, “103,170 new cases of colon cancer will be diagnosed this year – more than half of which will be in men.” With these terrifyingly high numbers, doctors recommend men getting checked for colon cancer by the age of 50. While many men are reluctant to undergo this procedure, they can be fairly easy to obtain. There are different methods to screen for colon cancer – a colonoscopy (checking the entire colon with a camera and flexible tube), a flexible sigmoidoscopy (checks just the lower third of the colon with a camera and flexible tube), a CT colonography (less intrusive and uses a computer to scan), a CT scan, or a double-contrast barium enema (involves filling the colon with a contrasting substance to help doctors see problems on an x-ray scanner). Robert T. Grant, MD, a surgeon with New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia University Medical Center, says, “Beginning at age 50, men should receive a flexible sigmoidoscopy every five years, a colonoscopy every 10 years, a double-contrast barium enema every 5 years, or a CT colonography every 5 years.”
Skin Cancer Screening
Dr. Grant explains, “Men are actually two to three times more likely to get non-melanoma basal cell and squamous cell skin cancers than women are, and their risk increases as lifetime exposure to sun accumulates. About every three months, men should do a self-examination for new or changing skin lesions.”
8 Steps For a Skin Cancer Self-Exam
“When conducting a self-exam, you must be alert for changes to your skin. Anything that hurts, itches or bleeds can be a sign. Skin growths, birthmarks that have grown in size, and a mole that is darker than before are all things to look for. You need a full-length mirror, a hand mirror, a chair or bench, and bright lighting:
Diabetes
Diabetes is a disease that leads to various other conditions like heart disease, stroke, kidney disease and blindness. When testing for diabetes, your physician will most likely use a blood test known as a fasting plasma glucose test. Consult a doctor for a screening as soon as possible, especially if you have a history of diabetes in your family.
Source: http://www.everydayhealth.com
On Tuesday, Planned Parenthood announced the launch of an app that gives women the ability to receive STD testing and treatment, right in the comfort of their own homes.
The saying, “You learn something new every day” is, in fact, true. But how much “memory space” does your brain actually have? And can your brain suddenly “run-out” of it?
The FDA has finally taken action against the use of PHOs (Partially Hydrogenated Oils) in the United States food supply. PHOs are a major source of artificial trans fat. With this new ruling, the FDA hopes (and expects) to reduce the risk of coronary heart disease and prevent thousands of fatal heart attacks in the United States.
A statement released by the FDA on Tuesday, June 16th, 2015 states, “The FDA has set a compliance date of three years. This will allow companies to either reformulate products without PHOs and/or petition the FDA to permit specific uses of PHOs… It is important to note that trans fat will not be completely gone from foods because it occurs naturally in small amounts in meat and dairy products, and is present at very low levels in other edible oils…”
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Trans fat is formed in two ways – naturally and through food processing. Natural trans fat is produced in the gut of many animals, which is the reason why it cannot be completely eliminated from certain animal products like meat and dairy. It is created in processed foods as hydrogenation occurs (when hydrogen is added to oils to make it more solid). PHOs are mainly used to improve texture and flavors of foods, and elongate its shelf life. A major risk, when consuming high amounts of trans fat, is elevated levels of “bad” cholesterol in the blood, which can also raise your risk of developing cardiovascular disease. As many know, cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in both men and women in the United States.
According to the FDA, trans fat is most commonly found in:
Here are some tips to help you reduce trans fat in your diet and, in turn, decrease your risk of developing cardiovascular disease (according to the FDA) :
Source: http://www.fda.gov