Dr Mustapha Gives Men Health Tips

At our Cardiology Hospital in Dubai we believe that taking charge of your own good health is important at any age and it is never too late to start developing healthier habits. Regardless of your age or general health, if you are ready to focus on a healthier you, the following men’s health tips checklist provides a foundation from which to begin:

1. Eat a healthy diet. Choose vegetables, fruits, whole grains, high-fiber foods, and lean sources of protein such as fish.
2. Give yourself permission to take a break.
3. Ask your doctor about cancer screenings.
4. Stop smoking and limit alcohol intake.

Five important health topics for men that we advise to check and monitor:

- Prostate Cancer:

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer found in men after skin cancer. It tends to be a slow-growing cancer, but some types are more aggressive.

Screening tests may help find the disease early.
Screenings for healthy men may include a digital rectal exam (DRE) and possibly a prostate specific antigen (PSA) blood test.

The American Cancer Society recommends that men start talking about that with a doctor at:
> 50 for average-risk men.
> 45 for men at high risk.
> 40 for men with a strong family history of prostate cancer.

- Colorectal Cancer:

Most colon cancers develop from growths called polyps on the inner surface of the colon. Finding and removing colon polyps before they turn cancerous is key. For most people, screening begins at age 50 (earlier if you are at high risk). Tests include colonoscopy, in which a doctor uses a thin tube and tiny camera to screen the entire colon and remove polyps, or flexible sigmoidoscopy, which only checks the lower part of the colon.

- High Blood Pressure (Hypertension):

Your chances of getting high blood pressure are tied to your age, weight, and lifestyle. Many people have high blood pressure and do not know it. It is treatable and changing your diet and exercise habits can make a big difference. That may help you avoid heart disease, stroke, and kidney failure Get blood pressure checks annually with your health screening or physical.

- High Cholesterol Levels:

If you have too much LDL cholesterol in your blood, plaque builds up in the walls of your arteries. This makes heart disease more likely. Over time it can lead to heart attack and stroke. Lifestyle changes and medications can lower your LDL levels.
Get Cholesterol level checks annually with your health screening or physical.

- Type 2 Diabetes:

One-third of patients with diabetes do not know they have it. Uncontrolled diabetes can lead to heart disease and stroke, kidney disease, blindness from damage to the blood vessels of the retina, nerve damage, and impotence. But if found early, you can control diabetes and avoid complications with diet, exercise, weight loss, and medications. Healthy adults should have the test every three years starting at age 45. Some people, including those with high cholesterol or high blood pressure or obese should start testing earlier and more often such as annually.