Celebrating Father's Day: A Reminder of Men's Health and Wellness

Father’s Day is a day of honoring fathers, uncles, brothers, or any important male figure in your life. We frequently overlook the blessings and sacrifices that our fathers and other male role models have made for us. Father’s Day gives us the chance to express our love, gratitude, and respect to these special people. Men's health concerns are not limited to men; women who are concerned about the health of their husbands, fathers, sons, and brothers also have an interest in men's health.

In honor of the influence that fathers and other father figures have on their children's lives, Father's Day is celebrated globally. It is relevant to discuss risk factors and diagnosis related to men's health on Father's Day, as this is one of the biggest problems facing society today.

Men's Health Matters: Understanding The Importance Of Your Dad’s Health:

Research indicates that men are less likely to seek medical attention for several reasons. Some refuse help because they don't need it. Some people worry about the outcomes of their tests or what they could find out. Medical treatment is also viewed by some males as a sign of weakness. Remaining healthy, however, is a sign of strength. Maintaining your overall health is important.  Make sure to schedule any recommended screenings by your physician as well as your annual preventive exam. Screenings can assist in identifying health issues early on when they are most easily treated. Additionally, receiving therapy early can reduce your future medical expenses. More significantly, it has the potential to save your life.

Understanding The Risk Factor:

There are several risk factors which put men's health into trouble. These include the following:

• Heart diseases: Numerous varieties of heart disease exist. If left undiagnosed, any of its manifestations can result in life-threatening consequences. According to the American Heart Association, almost one-third of adult males suffer from cardiovascular disease. Over 3 million men are at risk of stroke. High blood pressure is common among men. Several risk factors, such as blood pressure, cholesterol, and smoking behaviors, can be used by your doctor to determine your risk of cardiovascular disease.
• Diabetes: Type 2 diabetes affects millions of men worldwide and it can lead to many complications such as nerve damage, kidney damage, heart disease, and even stroke if left untreated. Maintaining a balanced diet, and involving in regular exercises, are essential in the management and treatment of diabetes.
• Respiratory infections: Pneumonia, COPD, and influenza affects more in men than women. 
• Skin cancer: skin cancer deaths are more in men as compared with women. Wearing long sleeves and slacks, wide-brimmed hats, sunglasses and sunscreen outside can all help prevent skin cancer. Another way to reduce your risk of skin cancer is to stay out of UV light sources like sunlamps and tanning beds.
• Prostate cancer: Prostate cancer is the most common cancer among men aside from skin cancer.
• Liver diseases: Due to the overconsumption of tobacco and smoking, liver diseases are more commonly seen in men than in women.
• Mental disturbances like depression and suicidal tendencies are commonly seen in men.

Suggestions For Helping Your Dad Get In Peak Physical And Mental Health:

The following are some tips to improve your dad’s physical and mental health:

• Spend more time with him to improve his mental health
• Make sure he is getting enough sleep
• Ensure your father is having a well-balanced diet and adequate hydration
• Understand the current health status of your dad by performing screening tests, and other diagnostic tests. In cases of any diseases, start treatment early.

Essential Health Checkups for Every Dad Over 40:

On this Father’s Day, let us make sure your father is screened for health conditions to improve his health status. Essential health checkups include:

Comprehensive physical examination: Health assessments are based on a thorough physical examination. It consists of several parameters, such as BMI, cholesterol, and blood pressure. These measures provide insightful information about general physical fitness, prospective risk factors for chronic diseases, and cardiac well-being.

• Cardiovascular health assessment: Men should get frequent cardiovascular health assessments, which may include tests like Electrocardiograms (ECGs), stress tests, and lipid profiles, as cardiovascular disease is a serious health concern for them. These evaluations aid in locating any irregularities in cardiac rhythm. The risk of complications connected to the heart can be significantly decreased by treating these problems early on.
• Diabetes screening: Diabetes is a disease that affects blood sugar levels. If left untreated, diabetes can have major adverse impacts on one's health. Men over 40 must get screened for diabetes on a routine basis. Assessments such as hemoglobin A1c levels and fasting blood sugar tests offer important insights into blood sugar regulation. 
• Prostate health screening: Prostate health is something that men should take more care of as they age. Digital rectal exams and prostate-specific antigen (PSA) testing are two routine screening procedures that can help identify anomalies or early signs of prostate problems, including prostate cancer.
• Bone density screening: As you get older, bone density decreases. Screening for bone density disorders helps to diagnose the conditions easily and manage them.
• Eye checkups
• Dental checkups: Gum and periodontal infections are more common in older people. As you get older, the supporting structures of the tooth become weaker and it may cause loosening of the teeth. Regular dental checkups help to evaluate dental health, planning for dentures at the right time, and improve the overall health of the patient.
• Liver disease checkups: Liver functioning gets lesser as you age. Liver function tests, imaging, and hepatitis screening will help to detect liver diseases in their earlier stages.
• Gastrointestinal screening: Diseases like colorectal cancer, and ulcers are common in older people. Stool tests, colonoscopies, and endoscopies help to diagnose these conditions. 
• Kidney function tests 

The following table represents the essential screening and counseling programmes and how often you should take your dad for these checkups.

Screening	Who needs it?	How often is it needed?
Alcohol misuse	All adults	At routine exams
Blood pressure checkups	All adults	Normal blood pressure is 120/80mmHg. It is recommended for yearly checkup if BP is normal. If there are variations, follow your doctor's advice
Depression	All men above 40 years	At routine exams
Type 2 diabetes	All men after 45 years	At routine exams
BMI	All men above 40 years	At Least  once in a year
HIV	All men	Routine examination
High cholesterol and triglycerides	All men ages 35 and older, and younger men at high risk for coronary artery disease	At Least every 5 years if the results are in the normal range. Follow the doctor's advice if the results show abnormal values.
Lung cancer	For men from 50-80 years, the risk is higher for men who have smoked for more than 20 years (1 pack/day for 20 years or 2 packs/day for 10 years)	Yearly lung cancer screening with a low-dose CT scan (LDCT)
Prostate Cancer	Men aged from 55-69 years	All routine examinations
Vision	All adults	Once every 1-2 years. If you have vision problems, check as per your healthcare provider's advice.
Syphilis	Anyone at increased risk for infection	At routine examination
Tuberculosis	Anyone at increased risk for infection	As per the instruction of the healthcare provider
Obesity	All adults	At routine examination
Hepatitis C	At least once in a lifetime; anyone at increased risk for infection	At routine check-ups
Dental checkups	All adults	Once every 6 months

 

Counseling	Who needs it	How often
Diet and exercise	Adults who are obese and overweight	When diagnosed and at routine exams
Sexually transmitted infection prevention	Anyone at increased risk of infections	At routine checkups
Fall prevention (exercise, vitamin D supplements)	All men after 60 years of age	At routine exams
Tobacco use and tobacco-related disease	All adults	In every check ups

 

Conclusion

Heart disease, stroke, diabetes, cancer, depression, and other ailments are mostly seen in men. Prostate cancer and benign prostatic enlargement are among their particular problems, though. A healthy lifestyle that includes regular exercise, a balanced diet, quitting smoking, managing stress, and moderate alcohol intake (no more than two drinks per day, if any) can prevent many of the primary health concerns that men confront. Frequent examinations and screening tests can identify diseases early on when they are most easily treated.

On this Father’s Day prioritize your father’s health by performing screening tests with B.Lal Labs. Early detection is the key to better management. Schedule an appointment now!