Monmouth County's Ask The Doctor September/October 2018

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Drs. Segal, Shriver, Rho, Meirowitz, Osias and Bellows provide patients with timely, compassionate, high quality care for their digestive ailments. If you would like to arrange a consultation with one of our physicians, call us at 609-924-1422 Princeton Endoscopy Center provides services (colonoscopy, upper endoscopy) that can detect early signs of colorectal cancer and can help doctors diagnose unexplained changes in bowel habits, abdominal pain and bleeding and weight loss. Our goal is to

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Men’s Health By Lauren Kolacki

As we get older we start to experience aches and pains in muscles we didn't even know existed. You begin to have health concerns that never crossed your mind before. It is im- portant to be mindful of your health and continue to get checked regularly for any changes or abnormalities. Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in American men. With that being said, being aware of the signs and symptoms can be the difference in life or death. At the age of 40, men should have a baseline PSA. This number should be discussed with a specialist who can point you in a correct direction. Be sure to know your family’s history of Prostate Cancer. Men who have a brother or father with a history of this cancer are twice as likely to be diagnosed with the disease. African American men are at the highest risk for this illness. As most of us know, high cholesterol raises the risk of a heart attack, stroke and peripher- al artery disease. Yes, genetics can play a role in this, but our lifestyle choices are the main proponents. Unhealthy eating, lack of exercise, smoking and excessive alcohol intake all

contribute to our health. Studies show that men who exercise regularly may delay age-related high cholesterol. While women experience menopause when their hormones drop suddenly, men experience something similar. Andro- pause is the male version of menopause. Contrary to female menopause, men experience a gradual drop in hormones over a longer period of time. This can still result in low sex drive, hot flashes, depression, irritability, mood swings, increased body fat, and decreased energy. Your diet can decrease these symptoms, as a loss in belly fat increases testosterone levels, as well as, vitamin D. As your age increases, so should your number of health screens. Women live an average 5 years more than men, as more men suffer and die from chronic illnesses than women. They’re 1.3 times more likely to have cancer than women and 2 times more likely to die from liver disease. Men should continue to be educated and aware about their health in hopes to changes these statistics.

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ASK THE DOCTOR

SEPTEMEBER/OCTOBER 2018