7-21-09

Men’s Health

On average men die earlier than women – in part because men don’t get physical check ups and screenings on a regular basis.

Men are at risk for premature death at younger ages compared to women.  That’s because men have earlier and more severe coronary artery disease and they have some different types of cancers, says Dr. Don Scott, associate professor of family and community medicine at SIU School of Medicine in Springfield.  He says some of these diseases could be prevented or managed if men didn’t put off seeing a doctor.

SOUND BITE: “The biggest health risks for men today are actually cardiovascular disease being the number one health threat so heart attack and stroke.  Then, after that, cancer of course is a big one.  And then after that is accidental injury.  And this is especially true for men under the age of 65.”

Scott says men can do several things to take good care of themselves.  He says they should know their readings for blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol.  He advises men to stop smoking, get adequate exercise and manage their weight.  He suggests that men learn their Body Mass Index or BMI reading because as the BMI goes up, so does the risk for health problems.  He explains how to determine individual BMI readings.

SOUND BITE: “ . . . you can go on the Internet and there are these BMI calculators that you can use.  And a healthy weight is considered to be between 20 and 25 for a BMI.  When you are in the 25 to 30 range, you are considered to be overweight.  And then when you get to 35, or more it’s actually considered to be significant obesity.”

Dr. Scott stresses the importance of men seeing their primary care physician for regular check ups and screenings to manage any risk factors they may have.

This is Ruth Slottag at SIU School of Medicine in Springfield.