Family Doctor 2008

VISITING THE DOCTOR men Taking responsibility ● Sudden weakness or numbness of the face, for your health risk factors: ● Don’t smoke. arm or leg on one side of the body. ● Loss of speech, trouble talking or under- standing what others are saying. ● Unexplained dizziness, unstable walking or falling, especially along with any of the other symptoms. You may be at greater risk for a stroke if you have uncontrolled diabetes, high blood pressure or cholesterol, atherosclerosis, or are a smoker. Your family doctor can help you reduce these risks. Lifestyle changes, such as exercising, eating a low-fat diet and not smoking, can also help. 5. Chronic Men, take control of your health and reduce your risk of the ‘Top 5’ causes of death. By Kelly L. Gilmore problems. Although you can’t do much about your family history or your age, you can make lifestyle changes to avoid many of the other ● Control your blood pressure and cholesterol. ● Maintain a healthy weight. ● Exercise regularly. ● Eat a low-fat diet. ● Be aware of chest pain. 2. Cancer. Cancer is the second leading Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). COPD is a chronic lung disease that includes 2 main illnesses: chronic bronchitis and emphysema (see page 80 for more information). The disease develops over many years and is almost always caused by cigarette smoking. The best way to prevent or keep COPD from getting worse is to quit smoking. The most common signs of COPD are chronic coughing and shortness of breath. If you are a smoker who coughs and is usually short of breath, you might have COPD. Talk to your doctor if you experience any of these symptoms. Your doctor can diagnose COPD and can help you manage the disease. This Top 5 list may seem frightening, but remember: by teaming up with your family doctor, you can learn to recognize and control your risk factors and live a long and healthy life. Kelly L. Gilmore is a senior associate editor with the American Academy of Family Physicians, headquartered in Leawood, Kan. cause of death for men, and lung cancer is the most common cause of death from cancer. Lung cancer can be prevented, in large part, by not smoking or using tobacco products. Schedule regular checkups with your family doctor. If you smoke, ask your family doctor to help you develop a plan for quitting. Your doctor can also recommend a stop-smoking program or help you decide if nicotine replacement or medication might help you. One more note: Whether you smoke or not, you should discuss options for colon and prostate cancer screening with your family doctor once you reach age 50. 3. Accidents. Auto accidents are the leading H ow many times have you thought to yourself, “If I ignore it, it will go away”? The startling reality is that too many men ignore their health. But here’s the good news: Each of the Top 5 causes of death for men is preventable in some way. By paying attention to what your body is telling you and scheduling regular checkups with your family doctor, you can help control many of the factors that may put you at risk. cause of accidental death in men. To reduce your risk of being involved in a fatal accident, use your seat belt, keep your speed down, don’t drive while sleepy, and don’t drive if you’ve been drinking or taking drugs. 4. Stroke. Most strokes are caused by a 1. Heart Disease. Heart disease is the leading cause of death for men. The biggest factors that contribute to heart disease are smoking, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, family history and age. Take a moment © WWW.123RF.COM blockage in an artery that carries blood to the brain. Doctors have found that if you get treatment right away after stroke symptoms start, there’s a better chance of getting blood moving to your brain, and less chance of damage. The most common symptoms of a stroke include: ADDITIONAL INFORMATION American Academy of Family Physicians http://familydoctor.org Centers for Disease Control and Prevention http://www.cdc.gov/men/ Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality http://www.ahrq.gov/ppip/healthymen.htm to look at your lifestyle, family history and your general health. With this information, you and your family doctor can assess your risk and make a plan to avoid potential familydoctor 2008 85 http://familydoctor.org http://www.cdc.gov/men/ http://www.ahrq.gov/ppip/healthymen.htm

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Family Doctor 2008

Family Doctor 2008 Foreward Introduction Contents What Do You Want From Health Care? Confident Communication Need a New Doctor? Understanding Your Health Insurance OTC Safety as Simple as 1-2-3 The Fight Against Resistance Drug Interactions Prevention is Better than Cure Hitting a Home Run 'The Herbalist Will See You Now' Healthy Eating to Boost Your Heart and Health Exercise: The Elixir of Life Back from the Brink Taking Control Up All Night Vitamins and Minerals 101 Allergies: Combating the Causes Protect Yourself From Colds and the Flu Diabetes: Assessing Your Risk Dealing with Diabetes The Cholesterol Count Getting a Grip on Hypertension Facts About CKD Banish the Burn Easing the Pain Stop the Pounding Urinary Tract Infections: Common and Preventable Skin Essentials The ABCs of COPD Impotence: Tackling the Old Taboo Taking Responsibility for Your Health Prostate Cancer Screening: Is it For You? Protecting Your Prostate Heart Disease and Women: Know the Risks Birth Control to Suit You Maneuvering Through Menopause Help for PMS Infertility: Problems Having a Baby Preventive Health: What Women Need to Know Pregnancy: Taking Care of You and Your Baby Eating for Two Postpartum Mood Disorders The Basics of Breast Milk Newborn Screening Tests: Possible Lifesavers Common Newborn Conditions Childhood Vaccines: Why They're Necessary Food Allergies: The Facts Facing Your Acne Raising Grades Staying On Your Feet Age Gracefully: Take Care of Your Bones Battling Osteoarthritis Tackling Anxiety Beating the Blues

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