What Type of Screenings Should I be Getting?
There are many screenings out there you can get. Not all of them sound exactly like a barrel of laughs, but they’re a tremendous preventative measure. With many common conditions for men, early detection could be the difference between life and death. That sounds a bit scary but serves as a reminder of how important screening is.

Here are some things to get checked to ensure your body is in good working order…

Prostate
It is sad to think that almost everyone knows someone who has battled, or lost a battle, with prostate cancer. It is the most common form of cancer among men in North America, and is usually slower to develop, which makes regular screening all the more important.

The chances of developing prostate cancer increase with age, so it is more common among older men. However, other factors can contribute to developing prostate cancer at a younger age. Some factors include:

• History of prostate cancer in the family.
• Lifestyle and diet. Lack of exercise, smoking, and a high fat diet will increase the chance of developing prostate and other cancers.
• Data has shown that certain ethnic groups have a higher chance of developing prostate cancer and experiencing a more aggressive form of the disease.

After the age of 50, regular screenings and chats with your doctor about the health of your prostate are crucial and can help ensure a longer, healthier life.

Heart Health
Many screenings related to heart health are part of a regular visit to the doctor, and this emboldens the importance of regular check-ups. Some men avoid regular doctor’s visits for a variety of reasons. You’ll hear people saying they don’t want to burden the system, or that they’ve always been healthy, so they don’t need to. These kinds of narratives should be thrown in the trash.

Be sure to get to the doctor’s office at least once per year to check in on the following…

• Blood Pressure – Elevated blood pressure greatly increases your risk of heart attack, heart disease, and stroke.
• Body Weight – Monitoring your body mass index and keeping a healthy weight reduces your risk of myriad health issues. Regular measurements help your doctor advise you on adjustments you may need to make in your life.
• Blood Sugar Levels – Blood glucose tests are a great screen against type 2 diabetes and pre-diabetes. Untreated diabetes can lead to much more severe medical conditions like congestive heart failure, stroke, heart disease, and many more. Get it checked!
• A discussion about diet and lifestyle. Lifestyle choices like smoking and poor diet are leading contributors to heart-related health issues. Since it’s not 1956, your doctor will recommend changes to these habits and likely an increase in physical activity, which we can all benefit from! See more details about healthy choices in our week 2 blog.
• Cholesterol – Cholesterol is important for our bodies despite often being framed in a bad way. However, too much low-density lipoprotein (LDL or ‘bad’ cholesterol) can result in clogged arteries, and lead to heart problems. A re-balancing of dietary choices may be needed.

Colonoscopy
Colonoscopies are used to detect and remove growths on the inner surface of the colon called polyps. Removing polyps before they become cancerous is critical, which is why regular screening (particularly after the age of 50) is important.

Colonoscopies can also detect noncancerous conditions like inflammation in the bowel, diverticulosis, and even hemorrhoids. It also gives doctors an understanding of the level of risk you might be at for developing conditions in the future. This might be one of those screenings that’s not very fun, but an important preventative measure, nonetheless.

Health Checks at Home
Another great way to take preventative measures against disease is by doing self-examinations at home. Many are easy, quick, and pain-free. Not to mention they can be effective for detecting early signs of significant health conditions.

Here’s a few things that you can do today…

Checking for Irregularities in the Skin
Examine your skin all over the body for signs of irregularity. Make sure you’re in a well-lit area so that any problems will be more easily noticeable. The more familiar you are with your freckles, moles, blemishes, and birth marks, the better. This way you’ll be able to find any changes that have taken place since your last examination.

What are you looking for?

• Changes or expansion of any of the spots on your skin. This includes moles, freckles, etc.
• Spots that have multiple shades.
• Sores that do not appear to be healing. Especially if this has persisted for weeks.
• Red patches that appear similar to a rash.
• Any abnormal bumps. Especially if they appear to be changing in size.

If you do happen to encounter any of these, consult your doctor as soon as possible. It may be nothing, but remember, early detection is what we’re going for, and it’s critical.

Mental Health at Home
We will always advocate for taking care of your mental health. With its complexities, it isn’t always easy to know when and if it’s time to seek help for your mental health. Although there are a growing number of resources available for this reason.

A mental health assessment at home consists of evaluating your life and identifying signs that something may be amiss. Here are some things to look for in your life that may mean it’s time to seek help:

• Having trouble sleeping – While this could be a sign that dietary changes are needed, it can also be a symptom of anxiety, depression, or a sleeping disorder. All of which should be addressed, given the importance of a good night’s sleep.
• General unhappiness – Losing interest in things you used to love, feeling sad, unmotivated, or on the verge of a meltdown all the time. These are all signs of depression.
• Constantly worrying – Feeling anxious about things whether they’re under your control or not. Anxiety can also present itself physically through nausea, sweatiness, headaches, dizziness, and general physical discomfort.
• Substance use/abuse – Many substances are used to cope with mental illnesses and trauma, although in most cases, these substances serve only to make conditions worse. Especially in the long run.
• Extreme weight gain/loss – Major fluctuations in weight can be a sign of an eating disorder, or even depression.
• Trouble balancing emotions – Emotional outbursts or feeling as though you’re on the edge all the time are clear signs of a mental health issue. Additionally, living in a state of constant high stress can take a serious toll on your physical health.

These are good things to evaluate about yourself, and additionally here are some tests available online to help you evaluate your mental health.

Psychology Today Mental Health Assessment

CMHA Mental Health Test

Mental Health America Mental Health Test

Testicular Self-Exam
Regular testicular exams are important for the early detection of abnormalities in the testicles, which can be a sign of many conditions. One of these conditions is testicular cancer which, although fairly rare, is highly treatable when detected early.

Self-examinations are also a way to empower yourself to take control and better understand your own health. The better you understand your own body when it’s working right and, more importantly, when it isn’t, the better your life will be. It’s also a great way to get some peace of mind when it comes to your health. So, with that said, here are some things to look for:

• Changes in the size and shape of the testicles.
• Unusual lumps or hard areas.
• Swelling or enlargement.
• Pain or discomfort.

If you encounter any of these symptoms, contact your doctor as soon as possible. It’s not necessarily a reason to panic, but again, early detection is why we’re doing this. Additionally, while self-examinations are an effective preventative measure, regular check-ups with a healthcare professional are crucial to ensure good testicular health for many years to come.

At Du Brule Hair Clinic, our focus is helping people look and feel their best. While hair is our specialty, we also want to promote healthy living for our clients, and everyone. We hope that this has been a helpful reminder to get a check-up!