We understand that men typically shy away from doctors and hospitals until they face an illness or injury that lands them in urgent care or the emergency room. But Baptist Health South Florida encourages men to take charge of their health before a medical crisis, and we have the expert staff and resources to focus on prevention.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that men are 100 percent less likely to visit the doctor for annual examinations and preventive services than women, exposing them to serious health risks, such as heart disease and cancer. Moreover, nearly 30 percent of men don’t have a primary care physician to help manage their health.
What prevention services does Baptist Health offer men?
Prevention of disease starts with an evaluation of your health. Baptist Health Primary Care physicians follow evidence-based recommendations for preventive health screenings, including regular annual exams and blood work, and take time to get to know your lifestyle and health goals. Annual checkups include:
- An assessment of unusual symptoms
- Blood pressure checks
- Blood work to determine blood sugar and cholesterol levels
- Determining your Body Mass Index (BMI) and your ideal BMI
- Discussions about vaccines and screenings, such as colonoscopy and prostate exams, that are necessary for your age and appropriate for you
Our approach
With our extensive team of doctors, nurses and technologists, you can rest assured that we’ll have the resources to take care of your health needs. You can expect:
- An experienced and trusted team that understands the specific health issues that men face.
- A team approach that brings multiple specialties together and allows you to decide the best treatment for your condition or injury.
- Evidence-based recommendations for health screenings at the appropriate times.
- Advanced technology to reduce your downtime and improve your outcomes following any treatment.
We know you don’t want your health to get in the way of your life, so we’re here to get you back to your life quickly and to prevent any future interruption due to poor health.
Frequently Asked Questions
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The American Cancer Society recommends that men at an average risk of prostate cancer have an annual digital rectal exam to evaluate the prostate starting at age 50. Those at highest risk for prostate cancer because of strong family history of the disease should undergo the exam beginning at age 40. And men with a high risk for any type of cancer should have an annual DRE beginning at age 45. The United States Preventive Services Task Force no longer recommends the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test for routine screening of prostate cancer risk due to the high incidence of overdiagnosis of the disease and often unnecessary treatment.
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The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends regular colon cancer screenings beginning at age 50, unless there’s a higher risk for colon cancer from a personal or family history of the disease or other conditions, such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, or genetic syndromes, such as familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) or Lynch syndrome. For these groups, the recommendation is to begin regular colon cancer screenings earlier.
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The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention lists the following as the top conditions that cause death in men:
- Heart disease
- Cancer
- Cerebrovascular disease, such as stroke or aneurysm
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
- Pneumonia and flu
- Suicide
- Chronic liver disease and cirrhosis
- Diabetes
Our Team
Locations
We offer men’s health services at each of the Baptist Health hospitals and at our primary care offices. We also care for men at our outpatient facilities that focus on diagnosing injuries, performing outpatient surgery, offering physical therapy and providing colonoscopies.