While a medley of disease can affect a man, there are some conditions that are more capable of causing you trouble than some of the others. These health problems might not kill you immediately, but can be debilitating, and affect your quality of life.
The top five health concerns for men include:
- Obesity
- Chronic disease – Hypertension, high cholesterol, diabetes
- Heart disease
- Stroke
- Cancers – including prostate cancer
These conditions are amongst the most common men’s health issues. To find out if you have chronic diseases like high cholesterol and diabetes, blood tests such as the Essential Health blood test would allow one to find out about their cholesterol status, as well as blood sugar levels.
Additionally, blood pressure, height and weight can be taken using simple home-use devices.
By having quick and easy access to blood tests, patients can be more well informed and take charge of their health by making immediate interventions to prevent chronic debilitation with issues like stroke or heart diseases.
For Cancers, tests like cancer markers screening can give one an indication for a medley of cancers and can cover colon cancer, liver cancer, pancreas cancer, nose throat cancer, and prostate cancer respectively.
Common Male Health Problems: The Signs And Symptoms
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No man is exempt from the reduction of testosterone as they go through ageing. While ageing men usually put on weight and start building up cholesterol and higher blood sugar, testosterone levels fall year by year.
As men reach their 40s and progress into their 60s, this condition can worsen significantly, resulting in:
- Reduced sex drive.
- Reduced erectile function.
- Loss of body hair, beard growth.
- Less lean muscle mass.
- Feeling very tired all the time (fatigue)
- Obesity (being overweight)
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Low testosterone, testosterone deficiency and andropause can be identified and screened with an initial blood test that depicts total testosterone, the proteins that interact with testosterone to derive free testosterone as well as the other hormones that interact with testosterone that may cause its levels to below.
What Are The Most Common Male Problems Seen At DTAP Clinics?
Often, men come to see us for Erectile dysfunction, especially when the pills they pop do not seem to have any effect.
We then take a closer look at related concerns, which include low testosterone levels, high cholesterol, obesity and diabetes. This allows us to give them an accurate answer to the root cause of their erectile concerns.
Multiple treatment modalities specifically found at DTAP clinic include injections to increase testosterone, Electro Shockwave Therapy (ESWT) for Erectile dysfunction and injections to control appetite for sustainable and effective weight loss.
Is Self-Testing Reliable? Will Patients Make Mistakes?
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Self-testing for men includes blood tests and urine tests. They are straightforward and further assisted by an experienced phlebotomist (professional blood taker).
More specialised testing for sexual health may encompass rectal swabs. Clear and accurate instructions will be provided for the testee.
These tests are interpreted with PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) technology, which is highly accurate. Self-tests have yielded more than 99 per cent accuracy in testing and results.
Are These Tests Faster And Cheaper Than When It is Done By A Doctor?
Traditionally, most clinics have a doctor who will attend to the blood taking. There is also a consultation prior to the testing, which tends to incur additional costs.
We offer the added convenience of allowing patients to do the tests they already know they want, before consulting our doctors.
Usually, people get their yearly health screens and are not keen to see their doctor if the results come back normal. Some reasons for this include a busy schedule, wanting to save money from the consultation and even travelling distance.
Testing is made easier at DTAP Express as the results will be explained with a detailed compendium, and follow up can be done via tele consult should patients decide against visiting the clinic.
For results that are more concerning, an in-person consult would be immediately scheduled and managed by our friendly concierge care team on standby.
Will Results Sent Be Confidential And Discreet? Will It Be Sent To The Wrong Person?
Results are sent to only the contact details the patient provides. To add an additional layer of protection, these results are further encrypted so that only the intended recipient will have the password to unlock the results file.
We take data protection seriously and your personal health data is a top priority.
Can I Not Have a Follow-Up With a DTAP Doctor? Can I Share The Results With My Own Preferred Doctor?
Some patients may prefer to see their own doctors instead to discuss their results. Just like at DTAP clinics, other patients who have done their tests elsewhere may see us for further follow up because of the long-term trust that we’ve established with them.
Can I Bring The Test Kit Home For Myself Or Someone Else To Avoid Exposure To Infection During A Pandemic?
Currently, the tests are done on-site at our central location in the heart of CBD. It is quick, discreet, and fuss-free.
Like all venues, our service staff will routinely screen you for COVID risks. This will be in line with the latest prevailing guidelines and check on your vaccination status. This allows us to ensure that our clinic is safe for you, and for other patients.
In the near future, home testing kits will be developed in tandem with our tele-consult services. This will allow patients to perform their own tests at home and return the sample with a clinic arranged courier.
Are The Clinic And Process Hygienic, Since There Are No Doctors On-Site?
The goal of DTAP Express is to make healthcare convenient. Despite a high volume of patients that come in and out of the clinic, we routinely schedule cleaning and disinfection of the premises to protect patients.
The clinic adheres closely to the latest COVID-19 advisories in Singapore. We work hard to ensure a safe, comfortable environment, providing the highest possible standard of care for our patients.
This column has been written by Dr Julian Hong, a doctor at DTAP Clinic (Dr Tan & Partners) for theAsianparent.
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