Five Key Health Conditions Men Should Screen Against to Live a Longer, Healthier, and Happier Life from U.S. Preventive Medicine(R)

Next week marks the 13th year of International Men's Health Week, celebrated annually during the week preceding and including Father's Day to honor the importance of men's health and wellness. Men's Health Week was chosen for this specific time of year to make use of the extra attention paid to male family members near the holiday.

Observers of Men's Health Week are sometimes seen wearing a blue ribbon as a symbol of their support for the fight against prostate cancer. However, problems affecting men's health extend far beyond prostate cancer and other commonly recognized men's illnesses.

To help educate men and their families on how they can be more proactive regarding their personal health, U.S. Preventive Medicine(R) (http://www.uspreventivemedicine.com/), a company working to organize and advance a culture of prevention throughout America, announced its list of the five most critical health conditions affecting men and the actions they must take in order to prevent a serious illness from occurring.

"It is crucial for men to take full control of their health, especially since men are typically less proactive about their health than women," said Dr. Boyd Lyles, Chief Medical Officer, of U.S. Preventive Medicine. "By taking preventive action at the recommended time, men can stay ahead of the curve and become more knowledgeable about health concerns, creating a greater opportunity to identify a potentially serious condition before it becomes life threatening."

Below is a list of five key conditions U.S. Preventive Medicine believes all men should screen against:

  -- Prostate Cancer
     -- Digital Rectal Exam (DRE): The DRE screening is an early and simple
        test to screen for prostate cancer. The goal is to detect the cancer
        in its early stages when treatment is most successful; patients
        should consult their doctors for when and how often to receive this
        exam.
     -- Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA blood test): PSA is a protein
        produced by the cells of the prostate gland and is often elevated in
        the presence of prostate cancer and in other prostate disorders. A
        blood test to measure PSA is one of the most effective tests
        currently available for the early detection of prostate cancer;
        patients should consult their doctors for when and how often to
        receive this test.

  -- Heart Disease
     -- Blood Pressure: A blood pressure screening measures the pressure
        against the walls of your blood vessels. Men should have their blood
        pressure checked at least every two years until age 65; after that,
        they should be checked yearly.
     -- Cholesterol Testing:  High blood cholesterol is a major risk factor
        for coronary heart disease and stroke. It is recommended that men
        age 20 and older have a fasting "lipoprotein profile" every five
        years to test for good cholesterol, bad cholesterol and blood fats.
     -- Treadmill Stress Test: This test looks for critical levels of
        coronary artery blockage. The patient's heart rate and blood
        pressure are recorded at rest. The patient walks on the treadmill
        until they achieve a target heart rate. The test shows the doctor
        the presence of alarming changes or serious irregular heart beats.

  -- Diabetes
     -- Blood Sugar Testing: This test measures the amount of glucose, a
        type of sugar, in your blood. This is usually the first test done to
        diagnose diabetes.

  -- Colon Cancer
     -- Stool Blood Test: This test is used to find small amounts of hidden
         (occult) blood in the stool. Very small amounts of blood can be in
        the stool when polyps or cancers start to form. Having this test at
        an early stage can greatly improve the chances of successful
        treatment.
     -- Colonoscopy: A colonoscopy is usually conducted in patients 50 years
        of age and older and allows the doctor to see the entire colon. If a
        polyp is found, the doctor may remove it. If anything else looks
        abnormal, a biopsy can be done at an early stage.

  -- Lung Cancer
     -- Lung cancer is a common form of cancer diagnosed in the United
        States, and men who smoke are especially at risk. Men who feel that
        they may have symptoms of lung problems such as persistent coughing
        and wheezing, chest pains, or other respiratory  symptoms, should
        see their doctor immediately to determine the appropriate diagnostic
        tests to have administered as there are several screenings that can
        be used .The physician may choose amongst the following screenings
        to detect lung cancer and other lung problems; Chest X-Ray,  CT
        Scan; Pulmonary Function Test, Sputum sample, or Bronchoscopy.

About U.S. Preventive Medicine:

U.S. Preventive Medicine(R), a privately owned company, is organizing and commercializing the market for proactive preventive health services in partnership with established hospitals and physician groups. The Company licenses its proprietary methodology, technology and branding assets to a health provider, which operates a local point-of-care -- The Center for Preventive Medicine(R) -- in a geographic territory on an exclusive basis. Individually, The Center for Preventive Medicine delivers a consistent suite of prevention services; collectively, Centers across the country form The U.S. Prevention Network(TM). For more information, please visit http://www.uspreventivemedicine.com/.

Source: U.S. Preventive Medicine