Hey guys it’s June and two big things are happening this month! The NBA finals are underway and it is national men’s health month. All eyes are on the point guards of both teams and all eyes are on your health as men! Did you know you are the point guard of your health? Which means it is up to you to take initiative on making sure your health and wellness are taken care of. We all know it is important to make sure you are on a healthy diet, exercising daily, and reducing toxic substances such as smoking and excessive alcohol intake. But one of the most important things you can do on national men’s health month is making sure you schedule an appointment with The Y Factor for your annual urological wellness visit!

Urologists deal with issues in men concerning the urinary tract. Specifically, in men, urologists deal with the male organs including the penis, testes, scrotum, and prostate.  It is important for all men to see a urologist as they get older because health problems can happen to anyone. Since urology is a specialty, the urology specialist at The Y Factor can provide you with a wealth of information on a variety of health topics. Here at The Y Factor we encounter a wide range of health issues in our patients. Men who have a family history of prostate, testicular, kidney, and other urological diseases should start seeing a urologist around the age of 40 or even sooner. Our team at The Y Factor will do a complete medical history and screening exam to determine if you are at risk.

Prevalence estimates of testosterone deficiency in men vary widely across populations.  Testosterone deficiency is caused by inadequate production of serum testosterone and typically results in decreased libido, erectile dysfunction, decreased stamina, depressed mood, and decreased muscle and bone mass. The Hypogonadism in Males study evaluated 2,162 men in primary care outpatient practices and found that 38.7% of men 45 years and older had hypogonadism.  Each year, up to 14 million men older than 45 years are at risk of symptomatic testosterone deficiency, based on serum total testosterone levels of 300 ng per dL (10.4 nmol per L) or less. A growing body of evidence shows a relationship between low serum testosterone levels and the development of chronic disease. A population-based cohort trial of men 20 to 79 years of age determined that low serum testosterone levels are associated with increased mortality. There is substantial evidence that supports screening men for testosterone deficiency. It is strongly recommended that starting at age 20, all men should have an annual urological wellness visit with a qualified urologist to screen them for specific disease and address any health concerns they may have. If you have not seen a urologist this year, this is a great month to start being the point guard of your health. Schedule an appointment at one of our six locations across the Houston area and start winning the game for your health today!

References:

https://www.urologyhealth.org/

https://www.auanet.org/membership/publications/mens-health-checklist

https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/urologic-diseases

Timothy Bui is a board-certified Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP-C) and brings a wealth of experience to The Y Factor team. Timothy is the lead medical provider at the Webster location and brings 5 years of nursing experience as well as clinical experience in family practice, urgent care medicine, and men’s urological health.