Page 20 - Scene Magazine January 2023 48-01
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Stroke is caused by a clot that blocks the oxygen and nutrients to the brain. It causes brain damage and may also lead to limited physical movements, loss of mem- ory, and slurred speech. Regular check- ups can help to managing high blood pressure, diabetes, and obesity to reduce risk. Your health care provider may also recommend changes in physical activity and diet.
sores that don’t heal properly. Talk to your health care provider about any symptoms you may be experiencing.
control diabetes and avoid complications with diet, exercise, weight loss, and med- ications.
of cancer death in the U.S. Smoking is considered to be the primary culprit but secondhand smoke is also a concern. If you are a smoker, the recommendation is to quit to lower your risk. When a concern is identified a low-does CT scan may be recommended to take pictures of your lungs. It may also be recommended for adults 55-80 that are heavy smokers, or even for those that have quit in the past 15 years.
Type 2 Diabetes often goes undiag- nosed. As many as 1/3 of Americans with diabetes don’t know they have it. Symp- toms that may cause concern include blurry vision, frequent urination, feeling thirsty, feeling hungry, fatigue, and cuts or
Uncontrolled diabetes can lead to heart disease and stroke, kidney disease, blindness from damage to the blood vessels of the retina, nerve damage, and impotence. But if found early, you can
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A fasting plasma glucose test is most often used to screen for diabetes. Doctors may also use the A1C test, which checks how well your body has controlled blood sugar over time. Screening may start as early as age 45; sometimes sooner for those with identified high blood pressure or high cholesterol.
Cancers (condensed list):
Lung cancer is the leading cause
Prostate cancer is the next concern and is the most common cancer found in American men after skin cancer. See the article from Bronson Cancer Center in Battle Creek in the December 2022 issue of Scene on page 11 to learn more about skin cancer. Visit scenepub.com and click on the December cover. That being said, be sure to check skin regularly for any changes.
When prostate cancer is discovered early the options are greater. The American Cancer Society recommends that men start talking about that with a doctor about a digi- tal rectal exam (DRE) and possibly a pros- tate specific antigen (PSA) blood test at:
• 50foraverage-riskmen.
• 45formenathighrisk.Thisincludes
African-Americans.
• 40formenwithastrongfamilyhistory
of prostate cancer.
Testicular Cancer is regularly screened as part of the routine check-up for young to middle aged men. It can be treated when found early. Regular self-ex- ams can be valuable in early detection.
Colorectal Cancer develops from polyps on the inner surface of the colon. This type of cancer can be found because of other conditions but also from regular screening that generally begins at age 50. A colonoscopy can search for polyps as well as remove them. The flexible sig- moidoscopy only checks the lower part of the colon.
Editor’s note: This is a condensed list of health risks and concerns and may still seem overwhelming. Be sure to make an annual visit to your health care provider a priority to identify ways to reduce your future risks or to develop steps to manage any conditions you may find.
Sources: American Heart Association, American Stroke Association, Centers for Disease and Control Prevention, DHHS, Harvard Health Publishing, Healthline, Mayo Clinic, WebMD.