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Better Health D
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THEATER: ‘Hamilton’ returns to The Bushnell in Hartford, D7 CONCERT: Sondheim tribute at Springfield Symphony Hall, D7 BOOKS: Short film of school shooting becomes a novel, D7
| SUNDAY, JUNE 19, 2022
Men’s Health Aquablation Therapy is an advanced, minimally invasive BPH treatment that uses the power of water delivered with robotic precision.
(PHOTO COURTESY OF ISTOCK)
By Cori Urban
by robotic technology to remove prostate tissue. “It ensures that tissue Men dealing with benign removal is done consistently prostatic hyperplasia (also and predictably,” said Dr. called prostate gland enlargement), a noncancerous Cory D. Harris, another urologist on staff at Cooley Dickinenlargement of the prostate gland, will soon have a “revo- son Hospital. lutionary” type of treatment Patient satisfaction rates are comparable to more invasive available to them at Cooley Dickinson Hospital. procedures without the side effects, Sonn added. Aquablation therapy is an advanced, minimally invasive In clinical studies, he noted, men who had aquablation BPH treatment that uses the power of water delivered with therapy had a low rate of comrobotic precision. plications like incontinence, ejaculatory dysfunction and According to Dr. Donald J. erectile dysfunction. Sonn, a urologist on staff at The doctors hope to begin Cooley Dickinson Hospital, the procedure has been being aquablation therapy at Cooley Dickinson Hospital in mid to used throughout the country late June. in larger medical facilities, “We are excited to offer this and he is excited to bring this technology to Western technology to our communiMassachusetts. “I believe it’s ty,” said Christina M. Trinchero, a hospital spokesperson. revolutionary” with a lower risk of bleeding, infection and The prostate gland is located retrograde ejaculation, he under the bladder. The tube that transports urine from said. “It’s a huge movement the bladder out of the penis forward in treating enlarged prostates.” (urethra) passes through the Aquablation therapy is a center of the prostate. When the prostate enlarges, it begins safe and effective treatment to block urine flow. for patients suffering from lower urinary tract symptoms Sonn explained that benign prostatic hyperplasia is a bedue to BPH. It can be pernign enlargement of the gland formed on prostates of any that happens over time and size and shape. Aquablation therapy is a can create an obstruction. An resective procedure; the pros- enlarged prostate gland can tate tissue causing symptoms cause uncomfortable urinary symptoms like blocking the is removed. The prostate is reached through the urethra flow of urine out of the bladso no incision is made. It uses der. It can also cause blada heat-free waterjet controlled der, urinary tract or kidney Special To The Republican
Risk factors for prostate gland enlargement include aging, family history, diabetes, heart disease and obesity; exercise can lower the risk. “There have been studies that have shown that low-intensity physical activity like regular walks can have some symptom reduction.” - Dr. Cory Harris
Top: Urologist Cory D. Harris, MD, is on staff at Cooley Dickinson Hospital in Northampton and is a physician at the Urology Group of Western New England. Bottom: Urologist Donald J. Sonn, MD, is excited to bring Aquablation therapy for the treatment of enlarged prostates to Cooley Dickinson Hospital and Western Massachusetts. Sonn is on staff at Cooley Dickinson Hospital and is a physician at the Urology Group of Western New England. (PHOTOS COURTESY OF COOLEY DICKINSON HOSPITAL)
problems. It affects men of all races and begins to be more prevalent at about the age of 40, he said. Most men have continued prostate growth throughout life. This continued growth enlarges the prostate enough to cause urinary symptoms or to significantly block urine flow. The size of a man’s prostate doesn’t necessarily determine the severity of his symptoms. Some men with only slightly enlarged prostates might have significant symptoms, while men with very enlarged prostates might have only minor urinary symptoms. Symptoms of BPH include incomplete bladder emptying, more frequent urination, stopand-start urination, a feeling or urgency to pass urine and a weak stream. Harris said men with these symptoms should see a doctor; further diagnosis can be made through scans of the bladder to see how well it empties and through physical exams. Treatments for prostate gland enlargement, in addition to aquablation therapy, include medication and surgery. Medications can relax the prostate so the flow of urine can be stronger. “These often are very helpful,” Sonn said. Men who need more than medical therapy may con-
sider trans urethral resection of the prostate in which an instrument is inserted into the urethra to make the channel wider. But this could cause complications like bleeding, infections, incontinence and retrograde ejaculation, the doctor said. Risk factors for prostate gland enlargement include aging, family history, diabetes, heart disease and obesity; exercise can lower the risk. “There have been studies that have shown that low-intensity physical activity like regular walks can have some symptom reduction,” Harris said. Harris, who received his medical degree from Meharry Medical College in Nashville, and Sonn, who received his from Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York City, are part of the Urology Group of Western New England. They estimate the group sees over five thousand BPH patients annually with about 150 having surgery or some kind of procedure to help with the condition. According to hopkinsmedicine.org, symptoms related to BPH are present in about one in four men by age 55 and in half of 75-year-old men. By age 80, some 20 to 30 percent of men experience BPH symptoms severe enough to require treatment.
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D2 | SUNDAY, JUNE 19, 2022
THE REPUBLICAN | MASSLIVE.COM
Dangers of
belly
Fat A
desire to lose weight and look good compels millions of people to adopt healthy habits every day. But shedding fat is about more than looking good, especially when that fat has accumulated in individuals’ abdomens. Individuals may aspire to lose belly fat so they can fit into old outfits or look better in photos, and those are perfectly valid reasons to embrace healthy weight loss strategies. However, an even better reason to banish excessive belly fat is the link that such fat has to long-term health problems.
What’s so bad about belly fat? Seeing belly fat as a merely cosmetic concern overlooks the effects it has on overall health. According to the Mayo Clinic, belly fat is not limited to the extra layer of padding just below the skin known
as subcutaneous fat. Belly fat also includes visceral fat, which means it extends to deep inside the abdomen and surrounds internal organs. Johns Hopkins Medicine notes that visceral fat in the belly is very close to the liver, which can turn it into cholesterol. From there, the fat goes through the bloodstream and may collect along the walls of the arteries, potentially contributing to a hardening and narrowing of the arteries known as atherosclerosis. The complications of atherosclerosis depends on which arteries are affected, but they can include an assortment of diseases that affect the arteries and a greater risk for aneurysms and chronic kidney disease. Johns Hopkins Medicine notes that visceral fat is just as harmful for the heart as high blood pressure and smoking. So while efforts to reduce
belly fat may initially be embraced to improve appearance, individuals should know that reducing fat in their midsections also can reduce their risk for a host of conditions, some of which are deadly.
How much belly fat is too much? No two individuals are the same, and some who are already at increased risk for heart disease and other ailments may be in greater danger than others if they have a significant amount of belly fat. But the National Institutes of Health notes that women with a waist that is more than 40 inches and men with a waist that is more than 35 inches may be more likely to develop health problems related to belly fat, including heart disease and type 2 diabetes, than their peers with smaller waistlines.
What are the best ways to decrease belly fat?
Individuals with substantial belly fat should work in concert with their physicians to develop a healthy regimen to decrease that fat. A combination of diet and exercise is generally recommended, but how much exercise and which foods to eat will depend on individuals’ current conditions and medical histories. So it’s imperative that individuals speak to their physicians before making any drastic changes to their diets and fitness regimens. Ample belly fat poses a significant threat to individuals’ overall health. Embracing strategies to reduce belly fat through healthy means can help people slim down and improve their long-term health outlook.
Age-based Health
Screening
Guidelines E
arly detection is crucial to overcoming serious illnesses. Preventive care is something parents prioritize when raising children, but it’s a crucial component of healthy living as an adult as well. Health professionals recommend various age-specific screenings and tests, and these can serve as a guideline for individuals as they navigate adulthood. The following age-specific health screening recommendations, courtesy of Beaumont Health and Columbia Doctors Primary Care, can serve as a preventive care guideline,
though doctors may advise patients to get more frequent screenings depending on their medical histories.
18 to 39 years old
All adults should get the Tdap vaccine if they did not receive it as an adolescent to protect against pertussis, and then a Td (tetanus, diphtheria) booster shot every 10 years.
· HPV vaccine:
· Cholesterol:
A cholesterol check should occur around age 20, then every five years until age 35. Afterward it can occur annually.
The human papilloma virus vaccine is recommended if you did not receive it as an adolescent.
· Skin screening:
An annual full body screening will identify any suspicious moles or skin lesions.
· Breast exam:
Self-examination of the breasts and examination by a clinical provider should take place every year.
· Testicular exam:
Men should conduct self exams for testicular abnormalities. Doctors may examine the testicles during annual physicals as well.
40 to 64 years old
· Zoster (Shingles) vaccine:
Two doses of this vaccine will be administered between two and six months apart starting at age 50 and up.
· Colorectal screening:
A colonoscopy to detect any colorectal illnesses is recommended beginning at age 50.
· Prostate screening:
Prostate screenings begin at age 50 unless you are a highrisk individual, in which case screenings begin at age 40.
· Osteoporosis:
Doctors may recommend a bone density test and osteoporosis screening at age 50 and up if certain risk factors are present.
· Lung cancer screening: If you are a past or current smoker, it’s wise to have an annual lung cancer screening. The American Lung Association says adults age 55 and up can have this screening covered by health insurance.
65 years & older
Why Wait? Mental Health | Addiction | Crisis
· Tdap vaccine:
· Pneumococcal and
pneumonia vaccines:
These are recommended every five years for certain conditions and risk factors.
People who have trouble hearing often wait several years before they decide to get help. But life is happening now! Hearing loss affects your work, your family and your social life. Don’t let a hearing problem keep you from enjoying life.
· Cognitive health:
Doctors may assess your cognitive health to see if there are any risk factors for dementias.
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In addition to these screenings, doctors may conduct annual depression screenings to assess mental health. Routine blood glucose monitoring may be necessary based on risk factors for diabetes. Individuals are urged to speak to their doctors to map out a health screening schedule specific to their needs.
Call today: 413-BHN-WORK (413-246-9675) 24-Hour Crisis Line: 413-733-6661 Visit bhninc.org for more information
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