Page 22 - Florida Sentinel 6-15-18

Health
Sexual/Reproductive Health
How often: You should be screened for syphilis, chlamy- dia, HIV as well as other STDs annually, depending on your lifestyle. Also, it’s recommended that you have your testicles examined for testicular cancer during your periodic medical exams.
Why it’s important: Doctors may also screen your testosterone levels. If you are trying to start a family and hav- ing trouble, a male infertility test may be recommended to ex- amine your sperm and seminal fluid.
Cholesterol
How often: Every four to six years, unless you’re at risk for heart disease and stroke and your doctor thinks you should be tested more frequently.
Why it’s important: High cholesterol increases your chances of heart disease, stroke, and other life-threatening conditions.
AGES 40-49
Blood Glucose
How often: Have this simple test every three years after age 45, but if you are over- weight, your blood pres- sure is above 135/80 or you have a family history of diabetes, ask your doctor if you should be screened earlier.
Why it’s important: The American Diabetes Associ- ation says African-Americans are 1.7 times more likely to have diabetes. If you have high blood glucose levels, you’re at a greater risk of developing insulin resistance, prediabetes and type 2 diabetes. If left untreated, diabetes can lead to heart disease and stroke.
Colorectal Cancer
How often: Guidelines recommend Black men start getting screened at 45 or as early as 40, either by rectal exams, fecal occult blood testing, sigmoidoscopy or colonoscopy, especially if there is a family history of colon cancer, and then every three to five years.
Why it’s important: According to the American Cancer Society (ACS), colorectal cancer is the third-most common cancer among African-Americans. Death rates are 52 percent higher in Black men than White men.
Prostate Cancer
How often: The ACS recommends men get screened at 50, but because Black men are at a higher risk, they should get tested at 45 (especially if there’s a family his- tory). Depending on the results, men should be retested an- nually or biannually.
Why it’s important: According to the Prostate Can- cer Foundation, Black men are more likely to develop prostate cancer and are nearly 2.4 times as likely to die from the disease.
AFTER 50
Echocardiogram (ECG/EKG)
How often: If you’re over 70 and have symp- toms of heart disease, get one annually.
Why it’s impor- tant: An ECG is a simple, noninvasive test that measures electrical activity from the heart and can predict coronary heart disease.
Bone Density
How often: Every year to two years after 70
Why it’s important: The
painless test helps estimate the density of your bones and your chances of breakage. It also can diagnose osteoporosis before a fractured bone occurs.
Lung Cancer
How often: The ACS sug- gests annual screenings (with a low-dose computed tomography, or CT) if you are or were (within the past 15 years) a heavy smoker.
Why it’s important: Lung cancer is the leading cause of can- cer deaths in African-Americans, and Black men have a higher rate. The ACS reports that when de- tected at a localized stage, the five-year relative survival rate among Blacks for lung cancer is 47 percent.
AGES 20-39
Weight and Body Mass Index (BMI)
How often: Annually
Why it’s important: Ap-
proximately 2 of 3 adults are now
overweight or obese, which can
increase the risk for heart disease,
stroke, high blood pressure, dia-
betes and other ailments, accord-
ing to the American Heart
Association. Just because you’re
in the gym regularly doesn’t mean
you’re at a healthy weight or BMI (which is 18.5 to 24.9).
Blood Pressure
How often: At each doctor’s visit, but if your readings are high—between 120 and 139 for the top (systolic) number or be- tween 80 and 89 for the bottom (diastolic) number—or if you have diabetes, heart disease or kidney problems, your physician will most likely monitor your blood pressure more often.
Why it’s important: 40 percent of Blacks have high blood pressure, which also is known as the “silent killer” and can lead to heart disease and stroke. Having your pressure checked regularly is imperative.
PAGE 10-B FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY FRIDAY, JUNE 15, 2018