National Men's Health Week scheduled for June 13-19

GUEST EDITORIAL

National Men's Health Week is celebrated each year as the week leading up to and including Father's Day. 

According to the Men's Health Week Website (www.menshealthmonth.org), the purpose is to heighten the awareness of preventable health problems and encourage early detection and treatment of disease among men and boys.

Father's Day is a time to honor and celebrate all of the fathers in our communities. It is also a good reminder for all men to get their regular medical check-ups and seek early treatment for disease or injury. 

Staying healthy is a gift for the people that love and care about you. Regular medical, dental and vision examinations are as important for males as they are for females. 

Men, like women, experience health problems such as heart disease, high cholesterol, high blood pressure and various cancers. But there are a number of health concerns affecting only men. 

Females are often more receptive to regular visits than men. Men seem to have more difficulty coming in for their annual physicals. There are so many conditions we can help prevent and treat very effectively if caught early.

 Specific men's health issues include prostate cancer and erectile dysfunction. Prostate cancer, for example, is a condition that most men will develop if they live long enough. It can be treated very successfully when caught early.

As a medical provider, I help patients determine what screening tests are important for them. Reviewing your personal and family history helps us order the screening tests that are most important for your health. 

Everyone has a slightly different risk level. I encourage my father to get annual checkups. As a father myself, I understand how important it is to stay healthy for my family."  

On behalf of Columbia Basin Health Association, I extend best wishes to all area men for a happy and healthy Father's Day.