Let's get a physical

When we do make the trip it is usually only after we have collapsed or finally relented to our partner’s niggling that “your cough/bump/drip isn’t getting any better.” By then the damage may have already been done. Ignoring our health is killing us.

Women got the message a long time ago and are much more likely to get regular checkups. Deaths from heart attacks, strokes and certain cancers are higher for men and in many cases these diseases can be prevented by early detection and prevention, yet we men still avoid our doctors because we still believe working through the pain, sucking it up and or just going into denial works out so much better.

Increasingly, our resource strapped healthcare system, insurers and our exasperated partners are promoting the importance of regular doctor visits. Some men may not have a choice anymore as companies are increasingly suggesting their employees get physicals and some even recommend that annual and bi-annual exams become mandatory requirements for their executives.

According to Brian Luce, vice president human resource services and executive search at Pinnacle Staffing, a healthy management team is becoming a key component of prudent business planning. “Demographics are driving this move,” he says, “As management becomes older and thus more susceptible to sickness, enlightened companies know that illnesses to their key team members hits their bottom line; can impact the company’s strength, increase costs in terms of sick pay and paying for replacement employees and can affect succession planning.”

While things are slowly changing, the reality remains that most boardrooms are still dominated by males, often older, and making them take care of their health is now seen as a progressive business decision.

“It has to be a consensual process,” says Luce. “Employers have to communicate to their employees the importance of healthy living and the benefits for both company and individual of being proactive in regards to their health. Today’s workplace isn’t just about money it is also about developing a career, and a healthy lifestyle can be a part of that.”

“Companies that wish to remain competitive and maintain a strong management team, need to place a value on ensuring their executives are healthy,” adds Luce “Succession planning and management retention are becoming important components of the evolving workplace and healthy living is increasingly seen as an important element of a company’s profitability.”

But if you are not being compelled by your company, when should you go for a physical? There is some debate about when men should start getting regular physicals and then how often. The general rule was every couple of years from 18 onwards and yearly after age 40. But both the Canadian and American Medical Associations have recently suggested that healthy people, even after age 40, do not need an annual checkup but should be examined periodically for conditions related to specific risks and family history. Both organizations, however, recommend a visit to a physician at least once every three years.

Men typically ignore the signs of illness until it is serious and are also inclined to put symptoms down to age or tiredness. Fatigue and sleepiness could be a sign of heart problems. Tiredness, excessive urination, unexplained weight loss and thirst could be symptoms of diabetes. Blurry vision could be a sign of increased blood glucose. However, these diseases and others like high blood pressure and elevated cholesterol often have no symptoms, so a regular physical could literally save your life or at least your quality of life.

When it comes to getting a physical, being a hypochondriac is a good thing. Any odd lumps or bumps either on or below the skin should be pointed out to your doctor. Skin cancer is on the rise and the earlier it is caught the better and you can’t expect your doctor to remember every one of your moles.

Doctors are not mind readers either. If you feel constantly tired or fatigued, short of breath or have unexplained pains, mention it. It is much better for your health to tell your physician all about those aches and strange bowel issues than your coworkers.

Any talk of men’s physicals, of course, usually gets around to those two tests that get men to start coughing nervously and changing the subject–the testicular and the prostate exam. Men under 35 should get a testicular exam to look for lumps that might be indications of testicular cancer. It is unnerving, but you are just getting a strange person to do something you do every morning anyway so men need to get over it. Testicular cancer is on the rise and is one of the more common forms of the disease for men between 18 and 35. It is easily discovered and treatable if caught early enough.

A DRE doesn’t sound so bad, but the digital rectal exam is one of life’s more uncomfortable experiences. Or at least the idea is uncomfortable. It makes many men feel uneasy and is often cited as the reason for skipping a physical. Men need to get over this–women have it way worse and it isn’t a lengthy or painful exam. My doctor is often finished before I get the silent screams out. The exam for prostate cancer or enlarged prostate is recommended every couple of years for those over 40 and every year for those over 65. Again, early detection of prostate cancer can lead to much better outcomes. It’s another disease that doesn’t have obvious symptoms in its early stages. If you think a digital rectal exam is uncomfortable, try prostate cancer.

It is also worth noting that many illnesses are now being linked to oral health so a regular visit to your dentist is also warranted.

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In the last issue of Winnipeg Men Magazine, I asked you to go see your doctor. So, taking my own advice, I went to see mine. But before doing so, I was invited to try something new and alternative—a full body thermographic scan. This diagnostic technology measures heat emitted from your body with a digital infrared thermal imaging camera. Here’s how I understand the technology: if your body is trying to heal an ailment—it shows up as heat, or lack thereof.

The process is quite simple—stand in your underwear for about 45 minutes while a technician scans your entire body. The scans are then sent to a medical doctor for analysis and a report will be returned to you in a couple of days.  In my case, no major concerns were brought up, but it did recognize—and you could see it on the scan—that I have sinus congestion. This, and a couple of other questionable spots gave me the motivation to have my doctor look into it further.

The cost of the scan is not covered by Manitoba Health, and I am certain there are a lot of medical doctors out there questioning the validity, but my scan results did point out some issues that I will be discussing with my doctor. To me it just makes sense that if my body is trying to heal an area, or fight off an illness, that it would create heat—and that area should be looked at.

–Glenn Tinley

Go to www.naturaldiagnosticthermography.com for more information.