Guest Columnist
by
Patrick Luger, M.D.Internal Medicine
For Men: Regular exams make a quality-of-life difference
Most everyone has heard one version or another of a story that happens all too often and goes something like this:
After years of hard work, a man looks forward to a well-deserved retirement, with plenty of time for travel, hobbies and family. Early in his retirement, he goes in for a checkup with his doctor, whom he hasn't seen in years, only to learn he has multiple and serious health problems – problems that in some cases could have been easily treated had they only been detected earlier.
I don't tell this story to instill fear, but rather to motivate men to consider coming in sooner rather than later for a preventive exam. In my six years as an internal medicine physician, I've found most men come to the doctor only if they have a problem. And for the rare occurrence when a man does come in for a preventive visit, it's at the urging of his wife. (Message to women: Keep up the good work!)
What kinds of potentially devastating problems can be detected early? High blood pressure and diabetes are two good examples. These diseases can quietly exist for years, gradually causing significant damage to the body. But through simple screenings, we can detect these problems early, before there are obvious symptoms. And when caught early, these problems can be treated and managed, preventing long-term complications from developing.
When should men start coming in for preventive visits? For a man with no significant family medical history, we generally recommend that he begin coming in for a blood-pressure screening yearly and a cholesterol check every five years beginning at age 18. As he reaches middle age (40 to 50), the screenings expand to include prostate cancer and colon cancer – again, problems that if detected early can be more easily treated.
The biggest reason I can offer for men to come in for yearly preventive visits can be stated in three simple words: quality of life. By catching problems early and getting them under control, we can help men reach their dream of retirement in the best possible health, without a long list of medical problems. The only list they'll have is the list of lakes where they want to fish. That's a true quality-of-life difference.
Dr. Luger practices in the Internal Medicine Department at MeritCare in Fargo. He also sees patients at MeritCare in Hawley and Ulen.
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