Don’t Delay Your Annual Physical, Screenings
Note: The following item Live Well Polk item was provided by Atrium Health Floyd on behalf of Tifani Kinard, the Vice President of Rural Health for Atrium Health Floyd.
In observance of Men’s Health Month this June, Atrium Health Floyd physicians
encourage men to make their health a priority by staying on track with annual exams and screenings.
At your annual exam, it’s important to have your blood tested and your vital signs checked. A physical gives you an open forum to discuss any symptoms you might have, such as chest pain, decreased tolerance for exercise, breathing issues, sleeping issues or any other concerns.
A health area that sometimes goes ignored by men is anxiety and depression. Men are just as likely to struggle with these conditions and 3.5 times more likely to die by suicide, despite being reported less often.
Always let your doctor know if you’re experiencing mood swings, high stress levels, a change in appetite, sleep habits or lack of hygiene.
An annual exam is also a good opportunity to discuss your family medical history with your doctor. If you have a family history of high blood pressure, heart disease or cancer, you’ll want to make this clear to your physician as this history can affect when you get screened for these diseases.
Some cancers, such as colorectal cancer, are more commonly diagnosed in men than women. Colorectal cancer, a combined term for colon cancer and rectal cancer, is the third most common cause of cancer death in the United States.
According to the American Cancer Society (ACS), the lifetime risk of developing colorectal cancer is 1 in 23 for men in the U.S. The ACS estimates that in 2023 there will be 106,970 new cases of colon cancer and 46,050 new cases of rectal cancer, leading to 52,550 deaths.
For individuals of average risk, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends screening for colorectal cancer starting at age 45 and continuing until age 75.
The good news is that many cancers can be detected early through screenings. The first step
is to schedule an annual exam with your primary care physician.
About Atrium Health Floyd
The Atrium Health Floyd family of health care services is a leading medical provider and economic force in northwest Georgia and northeast Alabama. Atrium Health Floyd is part of Charlotte, North Carolina-based Advocate Health, the fifth-largest nonprofit health system in the United States, created from the combination of Atrium Health and Advocate Aurora Health.
Atrium Health Floyd employs more than 3,500 teammates who provide care in over 40 medical specialties at three hospitals: Atrium Health Floyd Medical Center – a 304-bed full-service, acute care hospital and regional referral center in Rome, Georgia; Atrium Health Floyd Polk Medical Center in Cedartown, Georgia; and Atrium Health Floyd Cherokee Medical Center in Centre, Alabama; as well as Atrium Health Floyd Medical Center Behavioral Health – a freestanding 53-bed behavioral health facility in Rome – and also primary care and urgent care network locations throughout northwest Georgia and northeast Alabama.
About Advocate Health
Advocate Health is the fifth-largest nonprofit integrated health system in the United States – created from the combination of Advocate Aurora Health and Atrium Health. Providing care under the names Advocate Health Care in Illinois, Atrium Health in the Carolinas, Georgia and Alabama, and Aurora Health Care in Wisconsin, Advocate Health is a national leader in clinical innovation, health outcomes, consumer experience and value-based care, with Wake Forest University School of Medicine serving as the academic core of the enterprise.
Headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, Advocate Health serves nearly 6 million patients and is engaged in hundreds of clinical trials and research studies. It is nationally recognized for its expertise in cardiology, neurosciences, oncology, pediatrics and rehabilitation, as well as organ transplants, burn treatments and specialized musculoskeletal programs. Advocate Health employs nearly 150,000 team members across 67 hospitals and over 1,000 care locations and offers one of the nation’s largest graduate medical education programs with over 2,000 residents and fellows across more than 200 programs. Committed to equitable care for all, Advocate Health provides nearly $5 billion in annual community benefits.
