Prostate* Infection (Prostatitis)

Symptoms• Pain and burning when urinating or ejaculating

• Feeling the need to urinate more often than usual but only going a small amount

• Lower back or lower abdominal (stomach) pain

• Blood in the urine

• Fever and chills

HomeCare• Drink as much water as

you can.

• Avoid alcohol, caffeine, and spicy foods.

• Take hot baths to soothe the pain and reduce stress.

• Take aspirin or ibuprofen for pain.

Call your healthcare provider if:• Your symptoms include fever, chills, vomiting

(throwing up), or back or lower abdominal (stomach) pain, or

• Your urine is red or pink, or

• You have discharge from your penis and you have pain when you urinate and ejaculate, or

• Your symptoms change or suddenly get worse, or

• You still have symptoms 7 days after starting HomeCare

Prevention• Drink more fluids.

• Avoid alcohol, caffeine, and spicy foods.

• Manage your stress level (see Manage Stress).

Prostate* Enlargement

Symptoms• Trouble getting urine stream started and dribbling

from the penis after urination

• Feeling the need to urinate more often than usual

• Feeling like you still need to urinate after going to the bathroom

• Weak urine stream

• Waking up at night because you feel the need to urinate

HomeCare• If you wake up at night because you

need to urinate, cut down on beverages (especially alcohol and caffeine) before bedtime.

• Go to the bathroom when you feel the need. Take your time. Try sitting on the toilet instead of standing.

• If dribbling after urination is a problem, wash your penis daily to prevent infection.

• Avoid antihistamines and decongestants. These drugs can make urinary problems worse.

Call your healthcare provider if:

• Your symptoms include fever, chills, or back or lower abdominal (stomach) pain, or

• You still have symptoms two weeks after starting HomeCare, or

• You are taking diuretics, tranquilizers, antidepressants, antihistamines, or decongestants

* The prostate gland is located at the bottom of the bladder between the rectum and the base of the penis. It produces most of the fluid in semen.

Major Health RisksAll men are at risk for certain health problems. But you can take steps to improve your chances of staying healthy.

Heart Disease

Risk Factors You may be at increased risk if you:

• Have a family history of the disease

• Are over age 45

• Have high cholesterol

• Have high blood pressure

• Smoke

• Don’t exercise

Prevention• Manage high cholesterol

and high blood pressure as instructed by your healthcare provider.

• Limit dietary fat and cholesterol (especially if your cholesterol is high).

• Don’t smoke.

• Get regular exercise.

• Follow the Screening Schedule in this guide.

Heart Attack Warning Signs

Call 911 right away if you have any of these warning signs:

• Discomfort, pressure, fullness, squeezing, or pain in the center of the chest lasting 2 minutes or more, or

• Pain spreading into your shoulders, neck, or arms, or

• Severe pain, lightheadedness, fainting, sweating, nausea (feeling sick to your stomach), or shortness of breath

Prostate Cancer

Risk Factors You may be at increased risk if you:

• Have a family history of the disease.

• Are over age 65.

• Are African American.

• Eat a high-fat diet.

Prevention• Eat a low-fat diet.• Follow the Screening

Schedule in this guide.

Colon Cancer

Risk FactorsYou may be at increased risk if you:

• Have a family history of the disease.

• Are over age 50.

• Have polyps (growths) or chronic inflammatory bowel disease.

• Eat a high-fat, low-fiber diet.

• Don’t exercise.

Prevention • Eat a low-fat, high-fiber diet.• Exercise regularly.• Follow the Screening Schedule

in this guide.

Common ConditionsProblems with urinary and sexual function are common. If you are embarrassed to discuss such problems, just remember: Your heathcare provider has heard it all before. Besides, there’s often a very good chance that you can be helped.

Impotence (Erectile Dysfunction)

Symptoms• Difficulty getting or keeping an erection

Common Causes• Stress at work • Relationship problems

• Depression • Fatigue

• Lack of privacy • Physical injury

• Smoking • Blood flow problems

• Side effects of • Chronic conditions medications such as diabetes

HomeCare• Avoid alcohol. Don’t

smoke.

• Manage your stress level (see Manage Stress).

• If you have been under emotional strain, give yourself time to recover.

Call your healthcare provider if:

• You think medication might be causing the problem, or

• You are never able to get an erection (this may mean the problem is physical), or

• You still have problems a few months after starting HomeCare

Men’s Health

• Staying Healthy • Screening Schedule • Monthly Self-Exams • Common Conditions • Major Health Risks

©1999, 2001, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2009, 2012 Krames StayWell, LLC. www.kramesstaywell.com 800-333-3032 All rights reserved. Made in the USA. 1301

The information in this guide has been accumulated from current medical literature and is generally accepted by the medical community at this time. However, this information is not meant as a substitute for personal medical advice. If you have worrisome symptoms or conditions, contact a physician immediately.

www.kramesstaywell.com 800.333.3032

Krames StayWell is an independent patient education company that provides educational resources to Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana and our subsidiary HMO Louisiana, Inc. We at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana know that every individual has different health needs and goals, different factors that motivate them and different barriers to their success. Our team of healthcare professionals can assist you at any stage of your health or recovery; we are here for you. We encourage you to participate in the InHealth: Blue Health program. Simply give us a call toll-free at 1-800-317-2299 (OGB members can call 1-800-363-9159) to speak with one of our nurses about your health or about helping you coordinate your care.

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Eat Healthy Foods

Food Group 19–30 years 31–50 years 51+ yearsVegetables 3 cups 3 cups 2½ cupsFruits 2 cups 2 cups 2 cupsGrains 8 oz 7 oz 6 ozProtein 6½ oz 6 oz 5½ ozDairy 3 cups 3 cups 3 cupsOils 7 tsp 6 tsp 6 tsp

Vegetables: Any vegetable or 100% vegetable juice. Vegetables may be raw or cooked; fresh, frozen, canned, or dried/dehydrated; and may be whole, cut up, or mashed.

Fruits: Any fruit or 100% fresh juice. Fruits may be fresh, canned, frozen, or dried; whole, cut up, or puréed.

Grains: Any food made from wheat, rice, oats, cornmeal, barley, or another cereal grain. Bread, pasta, oatmeal, breakfast cereals, tortillas, and grits are examples of grains. Half of your servings should be from whole grains.

Protein: All foods made from meat, poultry, fish, dry beans or peas, eggs, nuts, and seeds.

Dairy: All fluid milk products and foods made from milk that retain their calcium content are part of the group. Most milk group choices should be fat free or low fat.

Oils: Fats that are liquid at room temperature, such as the vegetable oils used in cooking. Most Americans get enough oil from the foods they eat, such as nuts, fish, cooking oil, and salad dressings.

Healthy AlternativesVegetarian and other alternative diets can be good choices for some people. Be sure to check with your healthcare provider before starting an alternative eating program.

Manage Stress

Be realistic. If you feel overwhelmed, say no to activities and tasks

that are not truly necessary, or ask for help. When you agree to compromise, others may meet you halfway. In fact, you might try letting others do things their way once in a while.

Meditate. Set aside 10 to 20 minutes for quiet reflection daily.

This can reduce stress symptoms. Use the time to think, daydream, or listen to music.

Visualize. Use your imagination to picture how you can manage

stressful situations better.

Exercise. Daily exercise is a great way to relieve stress.

Aim for a healthy lifestyle. Limit caffeine and alcohol, get plenty of rest, and balance

work and play.

Find a hobby. Take a break

from your worries. Do something you enjoy. Whether you spend time outdoors or listen to music, make time to pursue your interests.

Share your feelings. Let friends and family give you the support

you need. Talking about problems can help you realize that you are not the only one trying to deal with life’s stresses.

Play It Safe

Exercise Safety• See your healthcare provider before starting a new or

more advanced fitness program.

• Always wear the right protective gear for the sport.

• Warm up for at least 10 minutes before any strenuous exercise.

• Use proper form.

• Drink plenty of water before, during, and after you exercise.

Sun Safety• Limit time outdoors between

the hours of 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., when the sun’s rays are strongest.

• Use sunscreen with a Sun Protection Factor (SPF) of 15 or higher every day.

• Do a skin self-exam every month (see Monthly Self-Exams).

Safer Sex• Use condoms with a new partner

until you are sure that person is not infected with HIV/AIDS or any other sexually transmitted disease.

Road Safety• Always wear a seat belt and shoulder harness.

• Never drink and drive, or ride with someone who has been drinking.

• Don’t drive when you are tired. On long drives, take lots of breaks to sleep and rest.

• Drive defensively and follow all traffic laws.

Screening ScheduleScreening tests can find diseases early, when they may be easier to treat. Talk to your healthcare provider about which tests are right for you and when you should have them done.

Cholesterol Checks: Have your cholesterol checked at least every 5 years, starting at age 35. If you smoke, have diabetes, or if heart disease runs in your family, start having your cholesterol checked at age 20.

Blood Pressure: Your blood pressure should be checked at least every 2 years.

Colorectal Cancer Tests: Begin regular screening for colorectal cancer at age 50. Your healthcare provider can help you decide which test is right for you.

Diabetes Tests: Get screened for diabetes if you have high blood pressure or high cholesterol. Or, if you have other risk factors such as being overweight or the disease runs in your family.

Depression: If you’ve been feeling “blue,” sad, or hopeless, and have lost interest in doing things for 2 weeks straight, talk to your healthcare provider about being screened for depression.

Sexually Transmitted Diseases: Ask your healthcare provider if you should be screened for sexually transmitted diseases such as HIV.

Prostate Cancer Screening: Talk to your healthcare provider about the pros and cons of this screening.

Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA): If you’re between ages 65 and 75 and have smoked more than 100 cigarettes anytime in the past, ask to be checked for AAA. This is an abnormal ballooning of a large blood vessel in the abdomen, which can burst and cause death.

Staying HealthyMost men think they are in pretty good health. But the truth is, on average, men die 5 years earlier than women. The good news is, you can take steps to improve your chances of living a longer, healthier, and happier life. For the most part, good health is within your control.

Get Plenty of Exercise Getting frequent exercise is one of the best things you can do to stay healthy. When you are fit, you are more likely to feel your best, avoid illness, and enjoy life to the fullest.

Experts recommend engaging in 150 minutes or more of physical activity a week. This is activity above your usual level at work or home. Greater health benefits may be gained through longer, more vigorous activity.

Aerobic Exercise Aerobic exercise is any activity that raises your heart rate.

Aerobic exercise is rhythmic, can be done without stopping, and uses the large muscles in your arms, legs, and back. Aerobic exercise includes:

• Biking • Swimming

• Walking • Basketball

• Jogging • Tennis

Other Types of ExerciseTo be complete, your fitness program should include strengthening exercises (such as weight training, sit-ups, and push- ups), and flexibility exercises (such as

stretching, yoga, and martial arts).

Body Mass Index Your body mass index (BMI) is a measure that takes weight and height into account to determine total body fat. If your total body fat is too high, you may be at risk of health problems.

Monthly Self-ExamsYou are the one most likely to notice signs of a health problem. That’s why it’s important to do monthly self-exams.

Testicular Exam The best time for this exam is after a warm bath or shower.

❶ Look in a mirror and check for swelling on the skin of the scrotum.

❷ Place your index and middle fingers under your testicles and your thumbs on top.

❸ Gently roll your testicles between your thumbs and fingers one at a time. Your testicles should feel like a boiled egg without the shell.

Call your healthcare provider if:• You detect lumps or swelling.• You notice anything new or unusual.

Skin Exam Skin cancer is a major health risk, so be sure to check all your skin every month.

❶ Examine your skin in a full-length mirror. ❷ Focus on areas that get a lot of sun. Include

your neck, face, and hands.

A-B-C-D Mole Warning SignsAsymmetry: mole has uneven or odd shape

Borders: edges of mole are not smooth

Color: color of mole is not the same all over

Diameter: size of mole is 6 mm (the size of a pencil eraser) or bigger

Call your healthcare provider if:• A mole on your skin has any of the warning

signs above.• You notice anything new such as a lump or

flat red spot.