Dr. Kendrick Lopez, Bellevue Hospital Center, internist and primary care physician

In time for Father's Day, HHC facilities are hosting Men's Health events to offer free screenings for blood pressure, diabetes, prostate cancer and depression. More than 50 percent of men in the U.S. die of heart disease or cancer, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Dr. Kendrick Lopez, an internist and primary care physician at Bellevue Hospital Center, talks about what men can do to avoid disease and injury and live a healthy life.

Q. What should men do to lower their risk of heart disease?

A.. Men should see their physician and have their blood pressure checked every one to two years and have cholesterol levels checked every five years starting at age 40. And, of course, they should not smoke. I recommend the HHC smoking cessation clinics where men can discuss the various methods available to help them end this addiction.

Q. What types of cancers are men prone to?

A. Prostate cancer and colorectal cancer are the most common. Both of these cancers usually will not present with symptoms, which is why screening is so important. For prostate cancer you may initially present with changes in your urine - urinary hesitancy and urinary dribbling are signs that warrant a visit to your physician. One of the more common symptoms of colon cancer is blood in your stools. The other thing to look out for is unintentional weight loss, which is associated with both of these cancers.

Q. How can these cancers be detected early?

The initial prostate cancer screening is a PSA blood test. Men over the age of 50 should discuss getting a PSA test with their physician to weigh the pros and cons. Men younger than 50 with family history should also discuss it with their physician. In the case of colorectal cancer, a colonoscopy screening beginning at the age of 50 can actually prevent the cancer altogether if polyps are found early. Black men should have a colonoscopy beginning at the age of 45, every 10 years.

Q. The CDC says 6 percent of men die of “unintentional injury.” Can you explain that?

A. Men have more high-risk behaviors, therefore they tend to suffer more unintentional injuries like motor vehicle accidents and motorcycle accidents. Many of these injuries are related to alcohol intoxication or drug abuse. Men also tend to be more involved in hard labor so they're more prone to injuries at work.

Q. What if a man is healthy?

You still need to see the doctor because early screening can find disease before symptoms begin to show. The earlier a disease is found the more likely it is that it can be treated. If you are healthy, continue to come see your physician once a year. Practice safe sex, exercise three times a week, don't smoke, and limit alcohol intake to stay healthy and extend life. And, don't forget to pay attention to your mental health too. Depression can often go undetected, particularly with today's worries about the economy and with men coming back from war.

Q. What can wives, children and girlfriends do to help?

A. Encourage the doctor visits, exercise and healthy eating. Historically, men don't visit the doctor unless they're feeling ill and a little preventive care can really help save lives. Make exercise part of a date, or encourage exercise with the kids. And if you cook for the men in your life, prepare healthy meals, low in salt and low in fat, to be sure to keep them healthy.

June 2010