Steamboat Pilot & Today

Steamboat Springs — Most men think they are in pretty good health. But the truth is, on average, men live six years less than women. However, there is encouraging news. For the most part, good health is in your control.

If you are like most people, you want to live a long time. More importantly, you want to live a full, productive and energetic life and be able to do the things you enjoy.

By incorporating a few positive lifestyle elements, you can decrease your chances of falling victim to the two most common obstacles to a long and healthy life heart disease and cancer. These two disease categories are the top killers in the United States. More than half of the people living today will eventually confront heart disease, cancer or both. Will you be one? Is there anything you can do to avoid these diseases?

Although the answers aren't clear-cut, prevention of disease through a healthy lifestyle and screening for early detection are your strongest defenses. It is vital to know the risks, those you can change and those that you cannot, and how to go about making necessary changes. Screening tests can detect abnormalities at a much earlier and more treatable stage.

Research has found many factors greatly influence our risk of developing heart disease and cancer. Some include lifestyle whether you smoke, eat healthy and exercise. Other factors such as early detection and intervention play a key role in survival and quality of life as well.

It's never too early to start making healthier lifestyle choices. Subtle changes can add up to a positive impact on the length and quality of your life, not to mention enhanced energy and spirit. What kind of choices? Simple ones: a bagel instead of a donut, an evening walk instead of an hour of television.

Small steps can lead to bigger changes down the road such as stopping smoking. All these positive changes will definitely add up to healthier and happier years of life.

Betsy Kalmeyer, MHS, PA-C is a physician assistant and a wellness counselor for Yampa Valley Medical Center.

Most men should follow these guidelines for screening at appropriate ages. Because these are general guidelines, you and your health care provider should decide what is appropriate for you:

Twenties

History and Physical: Every 3 years; at 40 switch to every 2 years

Complete Blood Count: Every 3 years; at 40 switch to every 2 years

Blood Glucose: Every 3 years; at 40 switch to every 2 years, or as needed to monitor diabetes

Blood Pressure: Every 3 years; at 40 switch to every 2 years

Cholesterol: Every 3 years; at 40 switch to every 2 years

Tuberculin Skin Test: Every 3 years, or more often depending on circumstances

Urinalysis: Every 3 years; at 40 switch to every 2 years

Vision: Every 3 years; at 40 switch to every 2 years

Testicular self-exam: Monthly; at 40 switch to every few months

EKG: Baseline once per decade throughout life

HIV: Regularly depending on sexual activity

Thirties

Add to the above...

Glaucoma: Start if family history; at 40 switch to every 2 years

Hearing: Only if difficulties emerge

Stress EKG: Every 3 years starting at 35

Chest X-ray: Only if you are a smoker, family history, or symptoms

Forties

Add to the above...

Blood in stool: Every 2 years

Digital/rectal prostate exam: Every 2 years

Sigmoidoscopy: Every 2-3 years if family history of colon cancer; every 2-3 years after 50 if no history

Fifties

Add to the above...

PSA screening: Every 2 years; after 60 every year

For more information on men's health and other medical topics, stop by the Community Health Resource Center (870-1173) off the main lobby at Yampa Valley Medical Center. Two helpful books in this library are "The Male Body: An Owner's Manual" and "Living Well, Staying Well."