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| SUNDAY, JUNE 20, 2021
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Men’s
Health The leading causes of death for men in the United States are heart disease, cancer and accidents, and the COVID-19 pandemic has had an impact on men’s health.
By CORI URBAN
Special To The Republican
“Most men have gained some weight during the pandemic. It was a combination of limited physical activity and staying at home most of the time,” said Dr. Albert Agomaa, a physician at Baystate Family Medicine in Northampton. “Anxiety and/or depression have been worse for some as well due to the uncertainty and unknowns that the pandemic brought.” Men and women share many of the same health concerns — like weight gain, depression and anxiety — but men also bring concerns like erectile dysfunction and prostate problems to Agomaa. “Men definitely can get breast cancer as well, but it is not as common as it is in women. As such, this can be overlooked in men,” he said, advising men to consult their primary care provider if they have any concerns about breast lumps that may be a sign of early cancer: “Early detection increases the chances of successful treatment.” Men’s health is the focus each year during the week leading up to and including Father’s Day. The purpose of this Men’s Health Week is to heighten the awareness of preventable health problems and encourage early detection and treatment of disease among men and boys. This week gives health care providers, public policy makers, the media and individuals an opportunity to encourage men and boys to seek regular medical advice and early treatment for disease and injury. Some health concerns — like anxiety and depression — cross all age brackets, but others can differ with age. Cancer, with the exception of testicular cancer, is
uncommon in young men, for example. But they are at risk for sexually transmitted diseases, motor vehicle accidents, violence, work-related injuries and self-destructive habits such as smoking, excessive drinking and drug use. For middle-aged men, heart disease, high cholesterol and high blood pressure are concerns that should be addressed by a medical professional. In addition, they need exercise that emphasizes a
Visual problems and hearing loss may also occur. The Centers for Disease Control & Prevention recommends that adults born between 1945 and 1965 be tested for Hepatitis C, a viral infection that can result from contact with an infected person’s blood. Baystate Health provides myriad services for men by an extended team of providers coordinated by Primary Care. “Baystate is an integrated delivery system that in-
of medicine not only as a benefit for patients, both female and male, but because as an academic medical center, Baystate is training future caregivers. “For example, we are the only medical center in Western Massachusetts to offer a number of heart procedures, including WATCHMAN, and also a pain management procedure for those suffering the pain of spinal stenosis and another procedure used as a last resort for those with
through telehealth, there are various screening recommendations for men that are based on age and risk factors, Agomaa noted. They include: • Lipid (cholesterol) screening and diabetes screening to begin at age 35. • Prostate cancer screening timing to be determined with the primary care provider. The American Cancer Society recommends discussion of prostate cancer screening beginning at age 40 for higher risk individuals, 45 for
reduce your risk for chronic medical conditions — or help control them — and are essential in keeping your immune system strong,” Agomaa said. If a man suspects something is wrong, he should consult his primary care provider. “In today’s digital age, there is a lot of information available online and it would be difficult to sift through it. Your primary care provider will be your partner in helping you work through your concerns,” he said. “Your primary care provider will work with you in evaluating your health issues and discuss what management options are available. There are health issues that can be managed by some lifestyle changes, while there are some that may require treatment.” Men’s Health Week was created by Congress in 1994 to heighten awareness of preventable health problems and encourage early detection and treatment of disease among men and boys. Former Sen. Bob Dole and former Congressman Bill Richardson sponsored the bills creating Men’s Health Week. They cited the cost-effectiveness of a shift from Left: Dr Albert Agomaa, a family physician at Baystate Family Medicine - Northampton. treatment to prevention in Right: The leading causes of death for men in the United States are heart disease, cancer and accidents, and the COVID-19 health care emphasis when pandemic has had an impact on men’s health. (CREDITS: SUBMITTED PHOTO) presenting the bill. The supporters of Men’s Health Week also noted that prevention combination of strengthencludes primary care, specialty sleep apnea who cannot use high risk and 50 for average requires public awareness, ing and cardiovascular exer- care and ancillary services CPAP – both of these are also risk individuals. and designating a week cise, balance and flexibility. coordinated by your primary exclusive to Western Mass. • Blood pressure/hyperwould spread information on Older men have significant- care provider,” explained Dr. with us,” he said. “And those tension screening at age 18. preventing illnesses affecting ly greater medical needs for Glenn F. Alli, medical direcare just a few examples of • Abdominal aortic aneumales. prevention and maintenance; tor – Primary Care Service many. Also, when attracting rysm screening for men ages More information on health and as with men of all ages, Line at Baystate Health. The new physicians/surgeons and 65-75 who have ever smoked. issues that men face may be exercise, nutrition and prehealth system continually others to practice at Baystate • Colon cancer screening obtained from the CDC at ventive medicine are import- updates its practices through Health, it is important to beginning at age 45. cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/menshealth.htm. ant. Their chronic conditions “close collaboration with spe- them to affiliate with a pro• Lung cancer screening must be carefully managed cialists (that) ensures access gressive health care system.” from 50 to 80 years of age. — these include diabetes, to contemporary care.” While the coronavirus pan“Healthy diet, exercise and For more information hypertension, high cholesterHe said it is important to demic caused more services adequate sleep generally about Baystate Health, go ol, arthritis and heart disease. remain on the “cutting edge” to be provided when possible overall maintain cognition, to baystatehealth.org.