This year, Father’s Day coincided with the first day of summer on June 21. Whether you’re a new dad, a parent of older kids, a grandfather, or even just thinking about having children in the future, this family-focused holiday and new season is the perfect time to take stock of your well-being.
June is also Men’s Health Month, a campaign that shines a light on men’s health awareness and emphasizes what all men—fathers or not—can and should be doing to stay healthy. It focuses on men’s health issues and common-sense solutions such as lifestyle changes, scheduling routine checkups, encouraging early detection and treatment of diseases, and seeking out medical and emotional support as needed.
Putting Men’s Health Issues in the Spotlight
Men’s health issues often go unseen and untreated—but it doesn’t need to be that way. Keeping a close eye on urological health is one of the ways men can stay ahead of problems. Regular prostate screenings, testicular exams, and comprehensive urology assessments can all help diagnose potential men’s health issues. And the results of these exams could give you the peace of mind that comes with a clean bill of health.
Men’s Health Awareness at Every Age
When it comes to general prostate health, keep in mind that although prostate cancer is typically found in men ages 40 and older—the average age of detection is around 66—adopting a healthy lifestyle is a good idea at any age. And the health and well-being practices that can help to prevent or lessen many men’s health issues also apply to maintaining urological health. This includes regular exercise, balanced and nutritious meal planning, managing your stress and mental health, limiting alcohol consumption, and not smoking.
Although the prostate is small (often described as “walnut-sized”), the gland that wraps around the urethra is an important part of the male reproductive system. Its functions include urinary control, sperm nourishment, and ejaculation. So, when something goes wrong with the prostate, it can have a big impact on your quality of life.
Aside from skin cancer, prostate cancer is the most-common cancer linked to men in the U.S. and is one of the more common men’s health issues. But in its early stages, the fact that men often won’t show symptoms can lead to delayed treatment. That’s the bad news. The good news is that if detected early, it’s highly treatable.
The American Cancer Society reports that while 1 in 8 men will receive a diagnosis of prostate cancer in their lifetime, only about 1 in 44 men will die of the disease. And medical advancements such as the TULSA Procedure are providing non-surgical options for patients.
Men’s Health Month may spur you to schedule a prostate exam or an annual check-in on your general health, but men’s health awareness can be practiced by the whole family. Family members can offer support by speaking frankly about men’s health issues, normalizing preventative care practices, and partnering with the men in their lives to prioritize their health goals.
Ultimately, the men who are being proactive about their health are helping ensure that they’ll be around for many Father’s Days to come.
What is the TULSA Procedure?
The TULSA Procedure, short for transurethral ultrasound ablation, is a minimally invasive approach used to ablate (remove) a surgeon-defined region of the prostate using precise, directional ultrasound energy. Radiation-free, incision-free, performed in a state-of-the-art MRI suite with real-time imaging, and FDA cleared, the TULSA Procedure is an innovative treatment option for qualified candidates. TULSA delivers controlled heat to targeted areas of the prostate, protecting nearby structures such as the rectum and urethra. The goal of TULSA Procedure is the treatment of diseased tissue in a way that helps preserve urinary and sexual function.
You don’t need to wait for Men’s Health Month to learn more about men’s health issues or the TULSA Procedure. Find a TULSA Procedure provider or contact one of our Patient Educators to learn more.