June is Men’s Health Month and CHRISTUS Health is encouraging men to prioritize their health by taking advantage of routine screenings and checkups.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 13.2% of men 18 and older are in fair or poor health. Top health concerns among men include heat disease, stroke, diabetes, prostate cancer, depression, lung cancer, skin cancer, colon cancer and high blood pressure.

Dr. Edward Johnson, family medicine physician with CHRISTUS Trinity Clinic, said men should have regular health checkups at least once a year, regardless of age.

“So often we tend to think, ‘I’m healthy and feel fine.’ But proper preventive screenings can catch abnormal things early. This is why yearly screenings are very beneficial,” Johnson said. “It gives you a chance to talk to your physician about anything that may be going on, even if it seems small.”

The leading cause of death among men is heart disease, Johnson said.

“This can be due to smoking, unknown diabetes, unknown high cholesterol, high-risk family history and high blood pressure,” he said.

Heart disease symptoms can include:

• Chest discomfort (pain, tightness, pressure)
• Discomfort in other areas of the upper body
• Shortness of breath
• Nausea or lightheadedness

“Heart disease can be preventable,” Johnson said. “This is why it is so important to see your doctor at least once a year.”

When it comes to health screenings, Johnson said the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force guidelines are widely used.

“Currently, men 18 to 39 should quit tobacco use, use UV protection against the sun’s harmful rays and have yearly lab work, which includes cholesterol, diabetes and blood counts,” he said.

Men 40 and over have the same recommendations as men 18 to 39, but with a twist, Johnson added.

“At 45, it is the dreaded colorectal cancer screening,” he said. “We have several options when it comes to having colorectal cancer screening, such as different stool studies and of course, colonoscopy.”

Johnson said low testosterone is another health concern. Symptoms can include tiredness, fatigue, excessive daytime sleepiness and decreased libido.

“What I have found out is that in men between 30-65, obstructive sleep apnea is a major cause of these symptoms, rather than low testosterone,” he said. “Talk to your doctor about these symptoms and get a home sleep study.”