News reader (Quita): decided to make some healthy resolutions to..and changes to the way you live. And joining us this morning is male health specialist Dr. Randy Fagin to talk more about those health related resolutions. Good Morning Doctor!
Dr. Fagin: Good Morning Quita!
Quita: Happy New Year!
Dr. Fagin: Happy New Year to you too.
Quita: Now, the last time you were here, we talked about some key health issues for men in their 20's, 30's and 40's. Today, let's talk about men who are little older in their 50's, 60's and 70's. Are there any resolutions more specific to those age groups?
Dr. Fagin: Well you know, the best place to start is the same place we started last time, which is that you know a healthier diet, better exercise and quitting smoking are the three most important things you can do this New Year. Stay healthier, not just for this year, but for many years to come.
Quita: Now do you have any specific advice for men in their 50's, 60's and 70's that they really need to take to heart?
Dr. Fagin: Absolutely! In fact you know, for men in this age, the biggest risk to them is heart disease and Cancers. Now unfortunately, they are silent diseases; that means that until they get fully [indiscernible] advanced, we don't really see any symptoms from them. So, screening tests become critically important for men of this age group.
Quita: Now what specific tests and screenings should men in this age group be getting?
Dr. Fagin: Yeah! You know,specific to their heart. We want to know how healthy is your heart today and how healthy they can be in the future. To know how healthy your heart is today, we want to look at things that's an EKG, a stress test. It is a great way for us to know how your heart is doing today. To know how it's doing in the future, we want to look at your blood pressure, your blood cholesterol and your blood sugar. If any of these are too high, that's telling that you have a higher risk of your having heart problems in the future. Now, looking at cancers, lung cancer, prostrate cancer, colon cancer; the number 1, 2 and 3 top causes of cancer related death in men. Again, silent diseases, we start at the top, quitting smoking, the most important thing you can do in the New Year to reduce your risk of cancer related death. For prostrate cancer, we've talked about it before, it's a PSA blood test and a rectal exam. Once a year, critically important test to find the silent disease early enough to cure it. When it comes to colon cancer, it's looking for blood in the stool and also having your Doctor do a test once on a regular basis to check inside the colon with a special camera. The simple screening test can keep healthier not just for this New Year but for many New Years to come.
Quita: Now, what about immunizations? We yo..usually think of those for little kids but what about the older men?
Dr. Fagin: Absolutely! Specially men over 65 years old, you know looking at getting a flu shot an influenza vaccine, a pneumonia vaccine. These are things that were higher risk for as we get older. And checking with your Doctor and making sure that you get these on an annual basis could get you healthier, especially in this winter season.
Quita: Alright Doctor! That's been great advice and thank you so much for being with us again.
Dr. Fagin: Thank you Quita.
Quita: And we will have Dr. Fagin on every other week. If you have a question for him or a topic you would like him to discuss, log on to kvue.com and go to our weblink section, ask your question on this website and he will answer in the coming weeks.
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01-17-09 Dr. Fagin on KVUEby urologyteam510 views
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