Did you know that men under 65 are less likely to seek preventive care and more likely not to have a primary care provider (PCP)? Yet health screenings, vaccinations, and other proactive and preventive care measures can make a big difference in men’s overall health.
This Men’s Health Month, Sollis is helping raise awareness of preventable health problems and common medical issues for men of all ages. With the right education and access, we can support men in making healthier lifestyle choices for a longer, healthier life.
Cardiovascular disease
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is sometimes called “heart disease”, but they aren’t exactly the same thing. CVD is an umbrella term for heart disease (the leading cause of death for men in the United States), as well as stroke, heart failure, and other conditions:
Coronary artery disease (including heart attack)
Abnormal heart rhythms or arrhythmias
Heart valve disease
Congenital heart disease
Heart muscle disease (cardiomyopathy)
Pericardial disease
Aorta disease and Marfan syndrome
Vascular disease (blood vessel disease)
Men are more likely to get CVD at a younger age. Risk factors for CVD include family history, age, ethnicity, and cholesterol levels. High levels of LDL cholesterol (the “bad” cholesterol) are often caused by an unhealthy diet, smoking, physical inactivity, high alcohol intake, and/or liver and kidney disease. A balanced diet, regular exercise, quitting smoking, avoiding drinking excessively, and prescription medications can help lower high LDL cholesterol.
Mental and emotional health can also play a role in men’s CVD: you’re almost five times more likely to have a heart attack and three times more likely to have a stroke in the two hours after an angry outburst.
How Sollis can support men’s heart health
Sollis members have dedicated Care Navigation Teams to help them stay on top of vital cardiovascular screenings, including screenings for blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood glucose. Our members also have complimentary access to troponin tests (which help diagnose heart attacks and other heart problems), clinically-indicated EKGs, and faster booking with leading specialists, like nutritionists and cardiologists.
Low testosterone
As men get older, they may experience low testosterone due to age or certain health conditions.
Testosterone is a hormone that affects sexual development, stimulates sperm production and sex drive, and helps build muscle and bone mass.
“Low testosterone” is when a man’s levels drop below 300 nanograms per deciliter (ng/dL). As well as aging, low testosterone can be caused by:
testicle injuries
certain medications
cancer treatments like chemotherapy and radiation therapy
stress
kidney disease, AIDS, autoimmune diseases, or pituitary gland conditions
alcohol use disorder
cirrhosis of the liver
infections
obesity
metabolic syndrome
Symptoms of low testosterone include:
low sex drive
erectile dysfunction
fatigue
decreased muscle mass
mood or cognitive changes
hair loss
hot flashes
How Sollis can help with low testosterone
Men with low testosterone can rebalance their hormones with lifestyle changes or testosterone replacement therapy (TRT). Sollis members who suspect they have low testosterone can talk to their Sollis team about getting tested and connecting with a leading endocrinologist for further treatment.
Prostate cancer
The prostate is a small gland just below the bladder that helps make semen. Prostate cancer occurs when cancerous cells form in the tissues of the prostate. It is very common, affecting 1 in 8 men in the United States (second only to skin cancer). It most commonly occurs in people ages 65-74, with the vast majority of diagnoses happening in people over 50.
Prostate cancer doesn’t usually cause symptoms until it’s large enough to put pressure on the urethra. Initial symptoms of prostate cancer can include:
frequent urination
difficulty starting urine stream
weak urine flow
feeling like your bladder hasn’t completely emptied
blood in your urine or semen
While people diagnosed with prostate cancer early often have many treatment options, all men should talk to their doctor about the best time to get screened. Age, risk factors, and the pros and cons of screening should all be weighed before you decide to screen for prostate cancer.
How Sollis can help with prostate cancer
Thanks to improvements in screening, early detection, and treatment, prostate cancer mortality rates have dropped by over 40% over the past two decades. As a Sollis member, your Sollis medical team can work with your PCP to coordinate prostate cancer screenings with our medical partner, Prenuvo. A Prenuvo Whole Body MRI can help your doctor diagnose your prostate-related symptoms.
