What African American Men Need To Know About Their Health

June 9, 2022

Know Your Health, Know Yourself 

How often do you get checkups? It can be difficult as a man to find time to go to the doctor, especially when we are experiencing issues related to urological health, prostate health, and sexual health. African American men are genetically predisposed to and are at higher risk than others for several health conditions. That is why taking the time out of your schedule to make sure everything is on the up and up is always worth it. 

When Should I See A Specialist Or Doctor? 

Routine checkups are always a good idea. They can allow you to spot potential problems and get ahead of them should they arise. Planning routine prostate checkups and bloodwork can keep you ahead of the game and in good health. 

What Should I Be Keeping Track Of? 

Knowing what types of appointments to make can be overwhelming. As men, it is always important that we keep track of our testicular and prostate health. As a general rule, testicular checkups should be a part of your annual physical screening with a doctor. Prostate checkups should also be done annually or biannually, depending on your age and overall health profile. African American men are at a higher risk for prostate cancer, so it is worth speaking to your doctor about when to schedule checkups and screenings. 

Lab work is also very important to knowing and understanding your full health profile. High cholesterol, high blood pressure, and high or low blood sugar levels can have disastrous effects on our bodies, so getting routine bloodwork done can allow you to spot potential problems before they worsen. 

African American Men and Genetic Predisposition 

African American men are at greater risk for colorectal, lung, and especially prostate cancer. Currently, it is not known why African American men are more likely to die of the disease. As it stands, prostate cancer diagnoses in African American males are 2.5 times higher than in other .racial/ethnic groups. This is why incorporating routine prostate checkups into your annual medical screening checklist is so important! 

Other Things To Keep In Mind 

Urological health is also something worth keeping an eye on. Prostate issues, sexual health concerns, and urological health are all things that we can treat and discuss with you at Austin Urology Institute. Contact us today to set up an appointment! We have plenty of locations all throughout the Central Texas area.