Sunday, June 19, 2016
It shouldn’t come as a surprise that many men don’t like talking about their health. Most dads would prefer to avoid the topic entirely. Still, as we continue the national observance of Men’s Health Month, now is a perfect time to get dad talking. Or, at least make it a point to look for warning signs or symptoms that might warrant a trip to the doctor, particularly as dad gets older.
Beaumont family medicine physician Nancy Ajemian, M.D., says certain topics are more relevant depending on dad’s age. And since you might only get the chance to ask him one question, here’s what she recommends.
If your father is in his fifties, one of the most important questions to ask is, “Have you had a colonoscopy?” It’s certainly not a great starter for dinner conversation, but it is an important topic. It is recommended that everyone have their first colonoscopy at age 50 to screen for colon cancer.
For dads in their sixties, Dr. Ajemian recommends asking, “Have you had a shingles shot?” The shingles vaccine is recommended for individuals after the age of 60. The vaccine reduces the risk of contracting the disease and the possibility of long-term pain that can occur after an episode of shingles.
When dad reaches his seventies and beyond, an important question to ask is, “Do you have an advanced directive for health care?” According to Dr. Ajemian, “It is important to let your family members know what health care decisions you would want if you are in a situation where you are unable to express them yourself. It ensures that what you want is or isn’t done and reduces the stress on your family.”
Beaumont family medicine physician Robin Samyn, M.D., says some health and well-being truths hold up regardless of Dad’s age. “To maintain endurance and strength and general well-being, exercise is a must. This includes weight-bearing or resistance exercises as well as aerobic exercise,” she says. Dr. Samyn encourages dads to aim for 30 minutes a day, five days a week. In addition to making dad feel a little younger, this will also be good for his heart and bones, improving sleep, reducing diabetes and fighting stress and depression.
Barry Franklin, Ph.D., is Beaumont’s director of Preventive Cardiology and Cardiac Rehabilitation. He includes a physical inactivity in a trifecta of behaviors that contribute to the development of cardiovascular disease. The other two are poor diet – including eating too much fast food – and cigarette smoking. Dr. Franklin notes it is never too late to quit smoking, though the sooner dad kicks the habit, the better.
In addition to raising these important questions with dad, try to take note of how quickly he walks and how long a distance he can go before experiencing discomfort. If he is walking more slowly than he used to or if he experiences shortness of breath, lightheadedness, pain or discomfort after physical activity, ask him to see a doctor about it. Dr. Franklin notes the problem could be cardiovascular, orthopedic or related to something else, but it is certainly worth having checked out.
On the other side of the equation, Dr. Franklin advises that asking dad to “pick up the pace” when he walks can have significant health and fitness benefits, provided of course that he can do so without experiencing symptoms like those noted above. One widely cited study showed that older men who routinely walked at a pace of 3 mph or faster had superior survival as compared with their counterparts who walked at a 2 mph pace or slower.
It may not be easy, and dad may not want to talk about it for long, but now is a great time to speak with him about his health. A few simple questions and suggestions could help keep him healthy for many Father’s Days to come.