Welcome to Check Up 13, in partnering with St. Vincent

WTHR, Channel 13, and Anne Marie Tiernon, co-anchor and health reporter, have partnered with Ascension St. Vincent, the nation's largest Catholic and not-for-profit health system, on an initiative called Check Up 13. The goal of the program is to educate and encourage Indiana residents to take a proactive role in their own health. Check Up 13 includes news stories that will air on the 13th of every month during the Health Beat segment. The program will highlight Ascension St. Vincent medical staff and focus on the health topic screening, event or promotion for that month.

Men's Health: Raise awareness and take steps towards a healthier life

Studies show that men tend to die earlier than women. Men are also half as likely as women to go to the doctor over a two-year period, according to survey data collected by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Below are some common misconceptions about ‘Men’s Health’ and practical steps men can take to improve their health:

• When it comes to men’s health, a popular misconception many is that something needs to be wrong before men go to the doctor. The fact is, many health conditions—such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol and elevated blood sugars—have silent symptoms that are hard to feel until it’s too late. When such conditions show up, they may already have caused irreversible consequences.
• Another misconception many men may have is that they don’t have time to see the doctor. A number of recent developments have made doctors more accessible than before. Many doctors’ offices are now offering extended hours and some even provide 24/7 telemedicine for appointments to make it more convenient for people to connect from anywhere. There are also worksite health clinics that work with employers to provide timely access to care with on-site and near-site clinicians with an eye on prevention even if they are seeing a patient for an illness.
• Regular checkups can be potential life-savers, especially if they can help to catch deadly conditions early when they’re easier to treat. Many unhealthy conditions result from making poor lifestyle choices over time. And many of these things can be caught by having regular conversations with your doctor about your health, your family’s medical history and your lifestyle choices. This is when it’s helpful to know you have a doctor or a medical professional that you can trust and call immediately if you have a question. A primary care doctor can serve as such a resource for you. Primary care doctors can help encourage and support you along a healthier path. They can help answer your questions and put you in contact with any other specialists you may need for your care. And they can be available at your convenience, whether you prefer to meet them in-person, over the phone or through your smartphone, tablet or laptop using 24/7 technology like St. Vincent OnDemand.

STEPS MEN CAN TAKE TO IMPROVE THEIR HEALTH:

• Sign up for this month’s ‘Check Up 13’ Free Men’s Health Screening. The screening will involve a blood draw that will test glucose, cholesterol and Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) levels.
  • Did you know that prostate cancer is the most common cancer (after skin cancer) in American males?
  • About one in seven men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer during his lifetime.
  • By testing the amount of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) in a man’s blood, the cancer can often be detected before symptoms arise.
• Schedule an appointment with a primary care doctor if you haven’t already. Consider making a call today. Or, you can ask someone who trust to make a call for you.*
• Get a check-up/physical.
• Have an open and honest conversation with your doctor. Ask questions. Get answers.
• Take advantage of preventative health screenings being offered near you.
• Commit to visiting your primary doctor regularly, every year.

*If you don’t have a primary care provider, visit getstvincentcare.com and we'll connect you with one!