Men’s HealthWatch
In summer, as we strip off winter layers and get back to shorts and tank tops, it’s natural to pay attention to the way we look. Summertime, though, is a great time to focus on what’s going on inside your body, and to work on improving your total health. At Preferred Care, we want to help you prevent illness and reach your health goals. Below, we’ve highlighted four main concerns in men’s health, along with simple and easy ideas to help you take charge of your health.
Click on a link below to "jump" to the information in which you are interested:
Lowering Your Blood Pressure
Reducing Your Cholesterol
Learning the Signs of Prostate Cancer
Exploring Your Options with Testicular Cancer
Lowering Your Blood Pressure
Blood pressure is the force of blood against the walls of arteries. Blood pressure rises and falls throughout the day. When blood pressure stays elevated over time, it’s called high blood pressure. High blood pressure is dangerous because it makes the heart work too hard and contributes to atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries). It increases the risk of heart disease and stroke, which are the first- and third-leading causes of death among Americans. High blood pressure also can result in other conditions, such as congestive heart failure, kidney disease, and blindness.
Hypertension can often be prevented, so these steps are very important even if you don’t have high blood pressure now:
• Maintain a healthy weight.
• Be physically active.
• Follow a healthy eating plan.
• Eat foods with less sodium (salt).
• Drink alcohol only in moderation.
• Take prescribed drugs as directed.
Learn more about high blood pressure in the Preferred Care online Health Encyclopedia.
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Reducing Your Cholesterol
High cholesterol is a known risk factor for heart disease that you can do something about. Try our simple solutions for reducing cholesterol, and take charge of your health!
- Eating a diet low in saturated fats, sodium and calories can lower cholesterol levels. A healthy diet should contain grains, fresh fruits and vegetables and small portions of lean meat, chicken and fish.
- Choose products that contain polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats such as olive, canola, safflower, soybean and sunflower oil instead of those containing saturated fats such as coconut or palm oils.
- Use low-fat or skim dairy products instead of those with whole milk.
- Regular exercise three to five times a week for 20 to 30 minutes may help raise your HDL (your “good” cholesterol) levels and help you control your weight, which can further reduce harmful cholesterol.
Cholesterol by the Numbers
The values that matter most in preventing heart disease |
| Total Cholesterol |
Less than 200 mg/dL = 'Desirable' level that puts you at
lower risk for heart disease. A cholesterol level of 200 mg/dL
or greater increases your risk |
| LDL (“bad” cholesterol) |
Less than 100 mg/dL = ‘Optimal’ level that puts you at
lower risk for heart disease |
| HDL (“good” cholesterol) |
Less than 40 mg/dL = A major risk factor for heart disease
40-59 mg/dL = The higher your HDL, the better |
Prostate Health: Knowing Cancer Signs
At Preferred Care, we want to help you prevent prostate cancer and take charge of your health, which means taking a few simple and easy steps: pay attention to your body, know the signs & symptoms of prostate cancer, and talk to your doctor about your concerns.
Early prostate cancer often does not cause symptoms. But prostate cancer can cause any of these problems:
- A need to urinate frequently, especially at night;
- Difficulty starting urination or holding back urine;
- Inability to urinate;
- Weak or interrupted flow of urine;
- Painful or burning urination;
- Difficulty in having an erection;
- Painful ejaculation;
- Blood in urine or semen; or
- Frequent pain or stiffness in the lower back, hips, or upper thighs.
Any of these symptoms may be caused by cancer or by other, less serious health problems. If you have symptoms like these, see your doctor.
See Preferred Care’s online Health Encyclopedia for simple ideas for reducing your risk of prostate cancer.
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Testicular Cancer: What All Young Men Should Know
Testicular cancer is a disease that occurs when abnormal cells in the testicles (testes) begin to grow in an uncontrolled manner. The testes are the two male sex organs that produce and store sperm. The testes also produce testosterone, a male hormone. They are located in a pouch below the penis called the scrotum.
Testicular cancer is most common among white males and is considered uncommon in men of African and Asian descent. Although rare, testicular cancer is the most common form of cancer in men between the ages of 20 and 34. It is considered to be among the most curable types of cancer, especially when it is detected at an early stage.
Learn more about testicular cancer in Preferred Care's online Health Encyclopedia.
Treatment for testicular cancer will depend upon the type of cancer cells involved and whether the cancer has spread beyond the testes. Common methods used to treat testicular cancer include surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation.
In addition to talking with your doctor, you can learn more about your options by using the decision tool in Preferred Care's online Health Encyclopedia: Should I choose radiation therapy or watchful waiting for my stage I seminoma testicular cancer?
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Sources: American Cancer Society; Healthwise® Knowledgebase; National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
Last updated: July 26, 2006
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