Men’s Wellness & Prevention
As we age, men’s wellness and prevention become essential to living out a long, happy life. Men of all ages face health threats, but you can take control of your own health. Making daily healthy choices and following our preventative recommendations are key to adult male wellness. Notably, if you have been suffering from joint pain, we offer musculoskeletal medicine to alleviate this chronic pain and make moving around easier.
Daily Choices
Staying healthy stems from the choices men make every day. These simple decisions can be an essential part of disease prevention. Men should try to eat a balanced diet with high fiber and low fat. Also, men should exercise regularly and try not to sit for extended periods of time. This will help maintain a healthy weight and keep your heart healthy while also reducing stress.
Men should also avoid smoking and excessive drinking to protect their lungs and liver. To protect your skin, it is also important to wear sunscreen every time you are exposed to the sun. Also, keeping vaccinations up to date will prevent contracting and spreading disease. Additionally, wearing your seat belt and helmet are important ways to stay safe and prevent injury.
Wellness Checks
Although making daily healthy choices is essential to good health, men are still susceptible to some less-preventable diseases. For this reason, routine wellness checks with Primary Care Partners of South Bend are important to monitor vitals and do routine screening and testing. During these wellness checks, our qualified and experienced staff will be able to talk with you about any of your questions and concerns and administer any necessary vaccines. We are also able to check your weight, blood pressure, and eyesight, and determine if further testing is necessary for any area. To schedule your wellness exam and ensure that your health is on track, request an appointment online, or give us a call at (574) 251-1200.
Recommended Routine Screenings
In addition to regular wellness checks, men should have routine screenings and tests for common diseases. Primary Care Partners of South Bend offers several screenings for male health. Catching a disease early makes treatment easier and more effective, so regular screenings are important. All men should have regular screenings for blood pressure and depression. If you have high blood pressure, you should also routinely screen for diabetes. For overweight men, screenings for obesity may also be necessary. Testicular cancer can be detected in very young men, so we highly recommend self-screening every month starting around age 15.
Recommended Age-Specific Screenings
Some screenings are only necessary depending on your age.
All men under the age of 65 should be tested for HIV at least once in their lives regardless of risk.
Beginning at age 35, we recommend regular screenings of blood cholesterol levels.
At age 50, men should get a colonoscopy. If these results come back normal, men should get a colonoscopy every ten years.
If you are between the ages of 55 and 75, had a blood transfusion before 1992, or have ever injected drugs, it is important to be tested for Hepatitis C.
Additionally, men between the ages of 65 and 75 that have ever smoked tobacco should screen for Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm. To schedule any of these screenings, or for any questions you may have, reach out to us online or give us a call at (574) 251-1200.
Mental Health
Mental health is important for all genders and ages. We understand the stigma surrounding male mental health may make it more difficult to ask for help. However, we can assure you that at Primary Care Partners of South Bend, we want to help improve all men’s wellness through mental health with respect and dignity. We encourage you to voice any concerns about your mental health, stress/anxiety levels, or abnormal moods with your doctor.
