Paid Advertisement MEN’S HEALTH: SYMPTOMS NOT TO IGNORE
‘It’s nothing.” That’s the classic retort you hear when you suggest that the man in your life see a doctor for symptoms he’s having. But it could be something—something which could endanger his health and interfere with his quality of life. Minor complaints needn’t worsen, especially since many of the latest treatments at Memorial Hermann can be minimally or even noninvasive. So, here’s how to get him to see a physician for some common health complaints. FATIGUE, HEAVY SNORING Symptoms: He gasps, chokes or even stops breathing while dozing. Likely culprit: He may have obstructive sleep apnea, in which excess throat tissue blocks the airway, says Ashley Wenaas, MD, ENT (otolaryngology) surgeon affiliated with Memorial Hermann Cypress Hospital. Sleep apnea deprives him of oxygen and may raise his risk of diabetes and hypertension. It also doubles his risk of stroke or heart attacks. Treatment options: “For sleep apnea, a Continuous Positive Air Pressure (CPAP) mask is the gold standard, but 30 percent to 40 percent of people find it uncomfortable and don’t use it,” Dr. Wenaas says. Dental devices or surgery can move the jaw or tongue forward to open the airway. Surgery can clear the throat or nasal obstructions. As with many conditions, weight loss can make a big difference, in this case because that puts less pressure on the throat. Your doctor may recommend physical activity, healthy eating and
portion control, with a weight-loss specialist’s support. Adults with moderate to severe apnea and a body mass index (BMI) less than 35 are eligible for Inspire, a device that’s like a pacemaker for the throat. During outpatient surgery, the doctor implants an Oreo®-sized battery in the upper chest. Turned on with a remote, Inspire sends a gentle electrical pulse to a nerve beneath the tongue with each breath. “That causes the tongue to stiffen and move forward,” Dr. Wenaas says. LARGE WAISTLINE Symptoms: He snores loudly, urinates often and has heartburn. Likely culprit: Obesity. His organs are surrounded by visceral fat and crammed into his tummy—and that’s bad news. “Obesity is a major killer because it’s linked to diabetes, cancer, cardiovascular and other grave diseases,” says Brad Snyder, MD, an associate professor of surgery at McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston and bariatric surgeon affiliated with Memorial Hermann Cypress Hospital. “Yet men don’t address their weight till their pain and medical problems are unbearable.” Treatment options: According to Dr. Snyder, he’s got to step up his physical activity, and not only peel off pounds but keep them off. For eligible candidates, bariatric surgery can lead to faster and perpetual weight loss. The minimally invasive surgery resolves not just obesity, but also many of the above issues. Yet only 1 percent of those eligible get the operation. “And of those, just one of five are men,” Dr. Snyder says, “even though they need it as much as women do.” For example, weight loss surgery, especially the gastric bypass, can alleviate heartburn in 80 to 90
percent of patients and has been proven to also alleviate the symptoms of sleep apnea, according to Dr. Snyder. According to Dr. Snyder, gastric bypass creates a thumb-sized pouch from the top of the stomach and connects it to the small intestine. Gastric sleeve, also called sleeve gastrectomy, cuts down your stomach by 70 percent till it’s the size of a banana “People can eat very little, yet they feel full,” he says. “Once men lose the weight, their quality of life is so much better.” MAINTENANCE Why it’s needed: Regular clinic follow-up and maintenance act as the key to unlocking his longstanding wellness, says Mark Hand, DO, family medicine physician with Memorial Hermann Medical Group Copperfield. By taking inventory of his health and charting a path forward to prevent future health problems his primary care physician (PCP) can be the first step in recognizing underlying health issues. From there they start a personalized treatment plan to help achieve his best health. “If a male has health issues, the PCP often is the first to recognize them. We can prescribe or adjust medications and decide what treatments are right,” he says. Treatment options: He should have an annual physical at least yearly to measure blood pressure, height and weight, cholesterol, blood sugar and other key body metrics. His doctor may urge other tests or health screenings, based on his family or personal health history. It’s never too late to rev up for better health. Regular tune-ups will spare him from major mishaps down the road. “Screenings can discover a problem early and help stop it from worsening,” Dr. Hand says.
Learn more about men’s health and recommended screenings by age at memorialhermann.org/menshealth
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CY-FAIR EDITION • JUNE 2022
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