Men’s urinary health resolutions for 2023
The end of the year is almost here, making it a perfect time to set goals for improving your urinary health. Don’t take urinary health for granted. Unfortunately, unless you’ve had problems with urinary issues, few of us have a plant for preventing potential future urinary problems with wellness checks and urinary awareness.
Men may question the need for urinary exams, particularly if they have no symptoms
Yet, once men reach a certain age, these screenings can help catch problems before they become untreatable or symptoms worsen.
Besides the usual New Year’s resolutions of losing weight or increasing exercise – both of which are important to regain good health – don’t put off important urinary screenings waiting until any problems progress.
Here are three resolutions to make 2023 the year to protect your urinary tract for a lifetime of good urinary health:
- Resolution Number 1 – Schedule a prostate-specific antigen test (PSA)
Beginning at the age of 40, men should prioritize scheduling a screening tool for prostate cancer called a PSA blood test with a urologist. PSA is a protein that both cancerous and noncancerous prostate cells make. However, cancerous prostate cells will make much more PSA than noncancerous prostate cells. Therefore, the PSA blood test will measure the protein level by providing a PSA number. An elevated PSA number may indicate the presence of prostate cancer. However, other conditions, such as an enlarged prostate called benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), or a prostate gland infection called prostatitis, can elevate a man’s PSA level. Therefore, an elevated PSA does not always mean cancer is present.
But, to be on the safe side, your doctor may recommend further testing, such as a prostate gland biopsy, or suggest having a second PSA test done.
- Resolution Number 2 – Have a urinalysis
A urinalysis is a simple test requiring you to pee in a cup. The test helps diagnosis and manages many disorders, such as urinary tract infections, kidney disease, and diabetes.
Once your urine sample is collected, laboratory testing will evaluate the results. A lab technician will visually study the appearance, concentration, and content of the urine provided. A chemical dipstick will be used to read the presence of various substances such as acid, protein, and blood. A urinalysis is usually done for many reasons, such as diagnosing a medical condition, monitoring a medical condition, or for checking on your overall urinary functioning and health. Be sure to inform your doctor of all medications, both prescription and over-the-counter you use and of all nutritional supplements too. Sometimes these products can sway the results of a urinalysis.
- Resolution Number 3 – Schedule a urology exam
This preventative exam is designed for the urologist to check a man’s urinary health by checking the kidneys, adrenal glands, and reproductive system, which include the prostate, vesicles, and testes.
Ideally, men should have urological checkup exams as early as in their 20s, especially if they have urinary symptoms or reproductive issues. Men in their 40s and 50s should get an annual urology exam as they are more likely to develop BPH or potentially life-threatening prostate cancer. A urology exam is an ideal opportunity for men to ask their urologist questions and for the urologist to spot medical abnormalities and devise a treatment plan.
Dr. David Samadi is the Director of Men’s Health and Urologic Oncology at St. Francis Hospital in Long Island. He’s a renowned and highly successful board certified Urologic Oncologist Expert and Robotic Surgeon in New York City, regarded as one of the leading prostate surgeons in the U.S., with a vast expertise in prostate cancer treatment and Robotic-Assisted Laparoscopic Prostatectomy. Dr. Samadi is a medical contributor to NewsMax TV and is also the author of The Ultimate MANual, Dr. Samadi’s Guide to Men’s Health and Wellness, available online both on Amazon and Barnes & Noble. Visit Dr. Samadi’s websites at robotic oncology and prostate cancer 911.