You might feel like you’re in the prime of your life, but a potentially serious health problem could be looming. The best way to know is through regular health screenings.
Over half of men admit to dodging the doctor. If you’re one of them, Dr. Michael Skardasis at Optimal Performance Medicine in Woodstock, Georgia, is here to convince you to make a health screening appointment.
Here’s what you need to know about men’s health exams and what could happen if you ignore them.
You feel fine and generally take care of yourself — why should you carve out time to see the doctor for no good reason? The answer is that while regular screenings may seem like overkill to the average “healthy” man, they serve as your first line of defense against myriad health problems.
Many chronic health conditions send early warning signs, and the only way to catch them is through a health screening in our office. A prime example is high blood pressure — it doesn’t trigger any physical symptoms, but it does show up during a routine health screening.
A simple blood pressure check can tip us off to an upward trend; early on, it’s usually easily reversible through lifestyle changes. If your high blood pressure remains consistently elevated, you’ll need treatment to address hypertension before it permanently damages your cardiovascular system.
Hypertension also increases your risk for heart attack, stroke, and other life-threatening complications that often require hospitalization, surgery, or long-term care.
In addition to catching high blood pressure in its earliest stages, seeing a doctor regularly can also detect the beginnings of diabetes, heart disease, and even certain cancers.
Dr. Skardasis and our team typically recommend annual health screenings for men 18 and older. At your first appointment, we perform a complete workup to establish a baseline for your current health status, which usually involves a blood pressure check, urinalysis, and a blood test.
More targeted screenings, such as cancer screenings, are often age-specific. For instance, at 40, men should start getting regular prostate cancer screenings; by age 45, you should have your first colonoscopy.
We can walk you through the details and let you know which screenings you do and don’t need, and we may even recommend earlier or more frequent screenings if your family and personal history indicate a higher risk of certain health conditions.
Men’s health exams aren’t as invasive or time-consuming as you might imagine. After your first appointment, the following visits are faster and more focused.
We start each appointment by recording your vital signs, performing a brief physical exam, and discussing your current health status. This is a great time for you to ask questions and address any new health concerns.
If necessary, we may run additional tests to evaluate your response to a current treatment or to guide a new treatment plan.
Dr. Skardasis and our entire team offer confidential, compassionate care and create a safe place to discuss your most pressing concerns. Don’t put your health on the back burner any longer. Call Optimal Performance Medicine to schedule an appointment, or use our convenient online booking.
