Costco Connection - June 2005

for your
health

Guys, get a tuneup

By Lisa Alcalay Klug _LEFT _TO _THEIR _{OWN devices, men} _typically _care• Give the same attention and respect to your for their cars more seriously than for their bodies. ^body ^that ^you ^would ^to ^your ^{car. Just} ^like ^your ^car,

More info

PHOTODISC

“_I _ask _{men, ‘Why} _do _you _put _money _away _forif you don’t get routine maintenance, you may not retirement? If you don’t take care of yourself, do you ^last ^as ^long ^as ^you ^could ^{otherwise. That’s} ^because_think _you’re _going _to _be _around _to _enjoy _it?’” _saysmany serious conditions that are treatable in their _Costco _member _{Dr. Richard} _{S. Pelman, a Seattle}early stages, such as diabetes, hypertension (high _urologist _who _is _seeking _to _change _that.blood pressure) and prostate cancer, may not show

Pelman recently led a team of health-care prac- ^symptoms ^when ^they ^can ^best ^be ^treated.titioners who wrote The Guide to Men’s Health, • ^{Be knowledgeable about conditions affecting}which stresses preventive care. Available online at ^{men. For} ^men ^under ^{40, major} ^health ^concerns ^are http://wsus.org/healthguide/, the guide is just one of ^injuries ^or ^accidents ^on ^the ^{job, at} ^play ^and ^while_an _increasing _number _{of resources} _that _warrantoperating cars. In men over 40, heart disease, stroke, _{attention during Men’s Health}cancer, chronic lung disease, diabetes and kidney ^{Week, June} ¹³ ^through ¹⁹^{. All}“ ^disease ^are ^relevant ^{issues. provide} ^helpful ^information ^on ^a^Just ^like ^your^•^{If you’re} ^sexually ^{active, get}_wide _range _{of medical} _concerns,_car, _if _you _don’tan HIV test. Because the virus that _including _heart _{disease, male- causes} _AIDS _can _long _remain _{dor- pattern} _{baldness, sexual} _dysfunc-_get _routine_{mant, a} _man _could “_walk _{around
tion, colorectal and prostate}maintenance, for 10 years with no idea he’s _{cancer and much more. infected,}”_{Bonhomme says. Certain conditions affect}_you _may _not _last_•_{Work toward a healthy
men} _at _much _higher _rates _thanas long as you lifestyle. If you smoke, work on ^{women. These} ^include ^illnesses^could ^otherwi”^se.^{quitting. If you don’t} ^{exercise, find of the} ^{heart, accidents, injuries, any} ^activity ^you ^enjoy ^that ^get^s^uicide ^and ^liver ^{disease. One} ^{of you} ^{moving, such} ^as ^{dancing. Be the} ^greatest ^differences ^is ^{suicide, says} ^{Dr. Jean aware} ^{of what} ^you ^eat ^and ^{drink. And} ^remember,_{Bonhomme, spokesperson} _for _the _Washington,people who are not isolated tend to be happier. Don’t D.C.–based Men’s Health Network. “Incidence is 4. 3 ^go ^it ^alone.times higher among men than women. That may There are broader reasons for men to be reflecthiddendepression.” healthy. Studies show health problems affecting

Doctors have also noticed that increased num- men “drag down the whole of society,” says bers of men seeking drugs for erectile dysfunction Bonhomme. For example, when a man becomes often suffer from other health concerns. Complaints disabled, women often shoulder the burden of car-of erectile dysfunction often prompt physicians to ing for a disabled husband, and an entire family look for diabetes, hardening of the arteries, high might suffer increased health-care expenses in the blood pressure and other serious conditions. face of diminished income. C

And yet, Bonhomme says, “Even if you exclude pregnancy-related visits, men only go to the doctor Lisa Alcalay Klug has written for Men’s Fitness, half as much as women.” But men can be easily The New York Times and other publications. motivated to seek medical attention when it is emphasized as a performance enhancer—a “way to help men stay younger longer and be more productive, more virile, more attractive and give them better concentration.” The Costco Connection

ARTICLE FEEDBACK

Here are some helpful resources on men’s health issues.

• For more information on The Guide to Men’s Health, contact the Washington State Urology Society at (206) 695-3196.

• For brochures regarding prostate diseases, testicular cancer and other gender-specific health concerns, call the Men’s Healthline, 1-888-Men-2-Men.

• For an online subscription to the Men’s Health list, e-mail menshealth@ menshealthnetwork.org with “subscribe” in the subject line.

• For more information on Men’s Health Week, call (202) 543-MHN- 1 (6461), ext. 101; write info@menshealth week.org; or visit www. MensHealthNetwork.org.

• Legislation pending would establish an Office of Men’s Health at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. If you’re interested in voicing your support, contact your representatives in Congress. Learn more about national initiatives at www.Mens HealthOffice.info.

For continued good health, the Men’s Health Costco offers a wide variety of products related to men’s health, including exercise Network and Bonhomme recommend these steps. equipment, vitamins, Nicorette, prescription drugs and more.