Men’s Health: Screenings can help prevent negative trends

From Piedmont Newnan Hospital

With many diseases or illnesses, symptoms don’t occur until later stages – often when they create much more serious health issues and are more difficult to treat . That’s why it’s important to get regular screenings and physicals to catch chronic diseases before they occur.  

Though Men’s Health Month was in June, it is crucial to highlight the important role regular health screenings can play in long-term health outcomes in men.  

A 2022 Cleveland Clinic survey of 1,000 men in the U.S. revealed that 55% of men say they don’t get regular health screenings. The National Library of Medicine research also suggests that men are less likely than women to go to a doctor for checkups, and are more likely to develop a chronic disease and illness.

“Men younger than 45 or 50 usually don’t come in for an annual check up on their own,” said Dr. Matthew Roberts, D.O., a Piedmont primary care physician in Newnan.  “Typically someone – a spouse, fiancé, or a significant other, or something like their work, makes them come in.  If they do come in for something quick, like joint pain, a head cold, et cetera, I always encourage them to schedule an annual physical before they leave the office.  Most insurance plans cover that appointment and the accompanying labs once a year.  I tell people that you’ve already paid for it, so you might as well do it.”

Dr. Matthew Roberts, D.O.

During these visits, doctors can check blood pressure, and perform blood sugar tests and cholesterol tests – all of which are important in preventing and identifying potential diseases or illnesses, such as diabetes and heart disease – the top cause of death in men (and women). 

“I do not agree with the thought that ‘I feel fine – so why do I need a physical?’ because ‘feeling fine’ is not proof that there isn’t something silent developing,” says Dr. Roberts. “We call high blood pressure ‘the silent killer’ for that very reason, and it’s not just high blood pressure that will sneak up on you. Diabetes, kidney disease, liver disease are all issues that you typically won’t know about until they are a bigger problem.”

While various screenings are available for a variety of conditions or diseases, below are a few recommendations for screening for men:

• Lung cancer screening is recommended annually for adults aged 50 to 80 years who have a 20 pack-year smoking history and currently smoke or have quit within the past 15 years.
• Colon cancer screening is recommended from age 45 to 75.  The way this is done and the frequency of the screenings will depend on factors that you can discuss with your primary care physician at an Annual Physical.
• The recommendations for prostate cancer screening are undergoing some review right now; however, Dr. Roberts currently does a PSA (prostate blood test) on men age 45 and older.  “The PSA is a simple blood test that can tell me if there’s a possible problem.  If the PSA comes back high, I’ll review the options for follow up care with the patient and help them make an informed decision about what to do next.”  

Dr. Roberts said men often have anxiety and hesitance with some of these exams because of the physical nature, but wants to emphasize that there are often other testing options available.  

“I rarely preform a digital rectal exam.  Patients find that portion of the exam very invasive and uncomfortable, and men will avoid going to the doctor entirely just because they feel that’s what’s going to happen at their Annual. A rectal exam may be recommended later on if the PSA is high, but usually I let the urologists decide that.”   

For more information on screenings, visit piedmont.org/cancer or call 770-400-4020. And for more information about Piedmont Cancer Wellness, including a monthly program calendar, visit piedmontcancerwellness.org.