Our doctors recognise that prevention is very vital in improving men’s health outcomes. As men tend to attend doctors less frequently than women, we screen men opportunistically , educate them, and encourage them to return for regular checkups.
The risk of heart disease can be significantly lowered by not smoking or ceasing smoking, eating a healthy diet, maintaining and healthy weight with a BMI between 20-25 and a waist under 95cm and exercising regularly.
Chronic health conditions such as high cholesterol, high blood pressure and diabetes need to be managed, working to achieve targets which lower risk. We offer regular Mens Health Check appointments to incorporate screening for heart disease and early symptoms of other chronic health issues.
Our doctors recommend tests for checking for blood in the stools each 2 years over 50 and colonoscopy in those with a family history of bowel cancer.
They advise men between 19 and 32 to regularly examine their testes to check for testicular cancer. They discuss the option of screening for prostate cancer with a PSA and digital rectal examination from 50 and 40 in those with a family history.
Benign prostatic hyperplasia is a common benign condition affecting 1 in 7 men between 40-49 and increasing to 1 in 4 over 70. A yearly check of the prostate can help detect this, and it is important to discuss with your GP any changing urinary symptoms such as frequency, slow stream, dribbling or nocturia.
Erectile dysfunction is another common condition in men. It also can be a warning sign of medical illnesses such as heart disease or diabetes or depression. It is important to raise this issue with your GP to investigate and treat this problem.
Depression affects 1 in 6 Australian men. Young men commit suicide four times more than young women and men over 65 also have a very high suicide rate.
Depression can be associated with medical illnesses such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease or chronic pain or grief. Men often do not seek treatment for mental illness, and can increase the use of alcohol or non prescribed drugs. Our doctors encourage men to discuss these issues, and provide the appropriate intervention and support which includes counselling, cognitive behavioural therapy, referral to a Psychiatrist or Psychologist or medications if indicated.