The Cleveland Clinic conducted a survey that found men have a difficult time seeing doctors and discussing health issues. Overall, 65% of respondents said they avoid doctor visits as long as possible, 37% said they withhold information, to avoid possible diagnosis of worse conditions, and 72% said they would rather do chores around the house than visit a doctor.
Many men avoid medical care because they hate the idea of being vulnerable, and see getting ill as a weakness. But this can make it very difficult to manage very treatable health conditions. Let’s examine some common examples of this, and how, by working together, we can help.
If you’re a man living in the Fort Lauderdale, Pompano Beach, or Greater South Florida areas and you’re dealing with symptoms you’re having trouble confronting, Drs. Craig Herman, Steven Kester, and the Urology Center of Florida are here. Our caring staff, state of the art facilities, and on-site lab facilities are here to help you get through your health issues.
Here are some common medical issues we can help you with:
Your prostate is a small gland in your pelvis responsible for creating seminal fluid to nourish and transport sperm. There are two common problems in this organ, benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and prostate cancer. BPH is also known as an enlarged prostate, and becomes more likely in men as they age. If your prostate gets bigger, it can block urine, and cause other problems in your urinary system (urinary tract, bladder, and kidneys).
One of the most common types of cancer, prostate cancer often grows slowly, and often only affects the prostate. But, it can spread and become a danger to your bladder and even your bones. Once it's spread it may be still treatable, but it will be much harder to completely cure.
BPH can be treated with medications like alpha blockers, 5-alpha reductase inhibitors, tadalafil (Cialis®), or combination drug therapy. Different types of surgery are available as well. Prostate cancer is treatable with radiation therapy, freezing or heating prostate tissue, hormone therapy, or surgery.
Having problems getting an erection is normal if it happens once in a while, but erectile dysfunction (ED) is a very difficult thing for many men to discuss. When it becomes a regular problem it may be a sign of other health concerns such as Peyronie's disease, heart disease, obesity, diabetes or low testosterone.
This can be treated with medications like tadalafil, sildenafil (Viagra®), vardenafil (Levitra®, Staxyn®) or avanafil (Stendra®) which enhances blood flow in your penis. These may not be used if you ate taking other nitrate drugs, have heart disease, or have low blood pressure. Other treatments include testosterone replacement therapy, alprostadil (Caverject, Edex) as either an injection or a suppository, penis pumps, or penile implants.
Also referred to as renal calculi, nephrolithiasis or urolithiasis, kidney stones are formed from minerals and salts in your urinary tract. These four types of stones (calcium, struvite, uric acid, and cystine) are created when your urine has more crystal forming substances than your urinary fluid can dilute. Dehydration, obesity, certain diets, and other medical conditions are common issues that can lead to kidney stones which can cause painful urination, discolored urine, and nausea or vomiting.
Treatments for kidney stones may differ depending on the size of the stones and the symptoms you’re dealing with. Small stones can be managed with lots of water, pain relievers, and medications like alpha blockers. Larger stones may require extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL), a sound wave therapy to break up stones or surgery.
These are just a few examples of conditions you may encounter as you get older, and all of them are not only treatable, but much easier to manage if we catch it early. So, if you’re dealing with symptoms and you don’t know where to turn, make an appointment with Drs. Herman and Kester and the Urology Center of Florida today.
