Basic Health Screenings May Detect Hidden Health Concerns
McGreevy Clinic Avera is hosting a free Men's Health Screening Saturday, Oct. 4, from 9 a.m. to noon, at Scheels in Sioux Falls. Free screenings include checks of blood pressure, body mass index, cholesterol and blood sugar.
With Dr. Kim Pederson, a family practice physician with McGreevy Clinic Avera in Sioux Falls
Why do health professionals emphasize health screenings? Can't I just go on how I feel?
It's like changing the oil and routine maintenance on your car, which you do so your engine runs better for a longer period of time. Sometimes, the mechanic will pick up on something that needs to be fixed. We use health care screenings to pick up on things that you might not notice.
Do men get all the health screenings they need?
A lot don't, because if they feel good, their philosophy might be "it's not broke, why fix it?" Married men tend to get more screenings because their wives push them to go in, which is good. Perhaps that's why some studies show that married men live longer than single men.
As an American male, what health concerns am I most likely to face?
Heart disease is high on the list, as well as prostate issues. Obesity is a problem for all of society - not just men. High blood pressure and high cholesterol are also prevalent.
What are the basic health screenings?
The basics are checking blood pressure, weight or body mass index, cholesterol and blood glucose levels for diabetes.
As we age into the upper 40s and 50s, we look at PSA levels in the blood with a digital rectal exam to screen for prostate cancer. We also recommend a colonoscopy after age 50, which can detect colon cancer and pre-cancerous polyps. It's also good to get a general exam in your doctor's office along with the screenings. We might pick up a heart arrhythmia, hernia or another problem that a patient didn't realize he had.
These screenings can't give an all-encompassing picture of my health - why are these singled out?
Certainly there are other health problems that we don't routinely screen for, because they are more rare or expensive to test for. These screens are the easiest and most cost-effective ways to pick up on some of the most common health problems people face.
What if a given test is high? Will I have to go on medication?
First of all, discuss the test results with your doctor. Sometimes, you can treat the problem with dietary changes or exercise. If possible, we start with simpler solutions and move toward more aggressive treatment. A given health problem may require medication. Many people are scared of taking medications because of possible side effects, but medications are there to help make a difference now so a minor problem doesn't become a major health issue.
Are there instances in which a health screening will find truly life-threatening conditions?
Sure. PSA tests may pick up cancer. Diabetes can start as a mild problem, but if it's not taken care of, it becomes a major problem as elevated blood sugar will essentially affect every organ in the body.
Cholesterol tests may pick up a potential to develop heart disease, the nation's No. 1 killer. It doesn't always predict this for sure, but gives you a guideline for taking steps toward prevention, such as lifestyle and dietary changes, or possibly medication.
High blood pressure is known as the silent killer. Most people who have it feel fine so they may think, why should I take medication? My analogy there is a hydraulic system on power equipment. The system is designed for so much pressure, and if it's under too much pressure, something is going to give. It's the same way with our bodies. If blood pressure stays too high too long, it's going to cause damage, especially leading to heart attacks, strokes or peripheral vascular disease.
But I've heard that screenings are not fail-safe.
There's been recent evidence out in the literature that maybe health care screenings don't pick up everything we'd like them to. True, they aren't perfect. But screenings are a simple way to pick up some minor conditions or potential serious illnesses. Treatment can help extend a person's life, or improve the quality of a person's life.
For more information, click on "health library" in the upper right corner of Avera McKennan's web site
