And the Answer Is…1. False. African-American men face a much higher

risk for prostate cancer than men of other racial backgrounds. However, Caucasian men with a family history of it also have an increased risk.

2. True. Men should discuss the advantages of screening with their physicians beginning at age 40. By obtaining a baseline PSA for men in their 40s, this number will reveal which patients are at risk of developing prostate cancer in the next 30 years. Because very few patients have symptoms at the early stages of the disease, PSA screening will detect patients in the early stages who are still curable. Prostate cancer is currently not curable once it has spread to other areas of the body. It is most important to detect which patients will need treatment early to prevent further deaths.

3. True. BPH, a noncancerous enlargement of the prostate that makes it hard to urinate, eventu-ally strikes a majority of men at some point after age 50. A man with BPH should avoid alcohol and caffeine in the evening, as well as over-the-counter (OTC) decongestants and antihistamines. Prescription medicines also may help.

4. True. Men with prostatitis also may have trou-ble urinating or ejaculating. It may be treated with antibiotics, if an infection is detected.

FALL 2012

F O R A P H YS I C I A N R E F E R R A L , C A L L (888) 444- U s M d

www. U s M dA r L I n GtO n .com

InsIde: Prevent Kidney StoneS ■ ed and the heart ■ Men’S health SerieS

h e a l t h y

the doctorrichard Bevan-

thomas, M.d.Urology and Robotic

Surgery

If you need a specialist, please call (888) 444-UsMd

for a free physician referral.

THE PROSTATE IS ONLY THE SIzE OF A wALNuT. But this small gland plays an important role in reproduction. Three common health problems that can affect the prostate include prostate cancer, prostatitis, and benign prostatic hyperplasia.

Take this true-false quiz to separate prostate facts from fiction.

Put Your Prostate Knowledge to the Test

whAt’s the Best Answer? Circle “T” for true and “F” for false.

1. Caucasian men have the highest rates of prostate cancer. T | F

2. Men should talk with their doctor about whether they need to be screened for prostate cancer. T | F

3. Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) occurs naturally as a result of age. T | F

4. A common symptom of prostatitis, an inflamed or infected prostate gland, is pain in or around the penis. T | F

2 uSMD Hospital at Arlington | www.uSMDARLINgTON.com

F O R A P H Y S I C I A N R E F E R R A L , C A L L ( 8 8 8 ) 4 4 4 - U s M d

the doctorMitch Abrahams, M.d.

Urology and Robotic Surgery

If you need a specialist,

please call (888) 444-UsMd

for a free physician referral.

YOuR DIET CAN DIRECTLY IMPACT YOuR

risk for developing a kidney stone. Although food intake is important, fluid intake is the most important factor. The amount of fluids you drink will affect your likelihood of getting a stone; and drinking large amounts of fluids can prevent future stones from forming.

Get PLenty OF FLUIds!Patients often ask how much fluid they should drink. we look at the issue from the opposite standpoint: how much urine is created and therefore how dilute is the urine? In general, patients who make stones should strive to make about 83 ounces (2.5 L) of urine per 24 hours. Therefore, our recommendation is to drink enough fluid to create that amount of urine.

If someone is sitting indoors, they may only need to consume 95 to 100 ounces to achieve that amount of output. However, if one is enjoying the out-doors during summertime in Texas, they will need to consume much more fluids to account for perspiration. what a per-son drinks is also important. Caffeine and alcohol tend to cause extra fluid loss, therefore causing the person to be dehydrated after they stop drinking.

watch Your Diet and Fluid Intake to Avoid Kidney Stones

whAt ABOUt FOOd?Protein, calcium, sodium, oxalate and mag-nesium intake will also affect kidney stone formation. For decades, stone formers were told to avoid eating calcium, such as in dairy products. This turned out to be a completely wrong recommendation, as several studies have shown that avoiding calcium will increase the risk for stones in many patients, due to overabsorption of oxalate (a chemical in spinach, chocolate, tea, and peanuts).

In general, stone formers should stick to a high-fluid, low-sodium, low-oxalate and moderate-protein diet. we have the ability to measure the various chemicals in the urine to give stone-forming patients specific recommendations about what they should be eating and what they need to avoid. ■

Why DO wE NEED

water during exercise?The body uses water for nearly every function. You can’t make or store it, so you need to replace water lost through urine or sweat. Physical activity—especially in hot, humid weather—causes sweating. It’s the body’s way to cool down, and your body can lose fluid during your workout. Lose more than you take in, and you’ll become dehydrated.

To avoid dehydration when you are exercising:• Drink before, during, and after a

workout to stay hydrated and avoid overheating. • Try drinking about 10 ounces

every 15 to 20 minutes while working out. • Try to match the amount of fluid

you take in with the amount you lose in sweat. One way to figure that out is to weigh yourself before and after exercise. For every lost pound, drink 24 ounces.

NEARLY ONE IN FIvE AMERICAN MEN 20 or older, and one in two 70 or older, have problems getting or keeping an erection. Physicians now think erectile dysfunction (ED) may point to future heart disease, even in men with no other indicators.

Men wIth ed hAve MOre heArt eventsThe link between ED and heart disease is most dangerous to men with diabetes, as they are three times more likely to have ED than men without diabetes. In one study from the Journal of the American College of Cardiology that involved Chinese men with diabetes, those with ED were 60 per-cent more likely to have a heart attack or other heart problem within four years than those without ED.

Although men with diabetes are more likely to have ED, all men should talk with their physicians about ongoing erectile problems. Men with ED are more likely to have cardiovascular disease risk factors such as poor blood vessel function, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol.

They are especially at risk for coronary artery disease.

PLAqUe BUILdUP LInked tO ed And heArt PrOBLeMsPeople once thought that ED was most-ly a psychological problem. Now they know it can have several physical causes, including damaged nerves, muscles, or blood vessels.

One contributing factor is plaque—made of calcium, cholesterol, fat, and other sub-stances—that builds up in blood vessels over time. This buildup in arteries can lead to heart attack or stroke. And blocked vessels in the penis may cause ED. Erectile problems often surface earlier than heart symptoms, possibly because these passages are smaller. Studies show ED comes first in two-thirds of men with heart disease.

ed And heArt rIsk BOth treAtABLe wIth LIFestyLe MeAsUresThe good news? ED can be treated. Often, the same lifestyle changes that reduce heart disease risk can improve erectile function.

These include:• Quitting smoking and illegal drug use,

and limiting alcohol.• Losing extra weight.• Controlling blood pressure.• Limiting foods high in saturated fat, cho-

lesterol, and trans fats. Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and low-fat or nonfat dairy products.

• Exercising regularly. Aim to burn at least 200 calories per day. This can be done with about 2 miles of brisk walking. One study showed men who did this reduced their ED risk by 70 percent compared with men who didn’t exercise at all.

• Medications, psychotherapy, and surgery also may help treat ED. ■

Living Healthy, Fall 2012 | uSMD Hospital at Arlington 3

F O R A P H Y S I C I A N R E F E R R A L , C A L L ( 8 8 8 ) 4 4 4 - U s M d

the doctorGary Price, M.d.

Urology

If you need a specialist, please call (888) 444-UsMd

for a free physician referral.

Erectile Dysfunction May warn of Heart Risks

UsMd hospital at Arlington801 w. Interstate 20Arlington, TX 76017

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Living HEALTHYLiving healthy is published by uSMD Hospital at Arlington to educate readers about issues important to their health. It is not intended to replace consultation with a personal physician. © 2012. Printed in the u.S.A.

Printed on recyclable Paper

The following FREE seminars will be offered at uSMD Hospital at Arlington.

The Man SeriesEverything a man wants to know but doesn’t want to talk about.

Tuesday/Thursday, 6 p.m.September 11: The PSA Controversy & Prostate CancerPresented by Dr. Bevan-Thomas

September 13: Leave No Kidney Stone UnturnedPresented by Dr. Abrahams

September 18: Erectile Dysfunction Got you Down?Presented by Dr. Price

September 25: It’s What’s in the Colon That CountsPresented by Dr. Kline

Bariatric SeminarDr. Lyons and Dr. Dyslin6 p.m.• September 13• October 18

TO SIgN uP for one of these FREE seminars, visit our web-

site at usmdarlington.com and click on “Register for Seminars” or call (888) 444-UsMd.

upcoming seminars

AMONg PEOPLE OLDER THAN 50, rates of colorectal cancer have been falling. Credit increased screening, which can prevent some cases by finding precancerous growths. But among those younger than 50—who aren’t routinely screened—a study found colorectal cancer rates have risen since the early ’90s.

what’s to blame? The researchers theo-rize that poor eating habits and obesity could be the culprits.

AIM FOr A heALthy LIFestyLeResearch has shown that a fast-food-heavy diet is generally high in meat and low in milk. Eating lots of red meat has been linked to an increased risk for colorectal cancer. Meanwhile, some studies suggest that the calcium and vitamin D in milk might decrease the risk.

Besides consuming more dairy products and less red meat, you can fine-tune your

How to Limit Colorectal

Cancer

menu in other ways that may help lower your risk of develop-ing colorectal cancer:• Limit intake of processed meats.• Eat a variety of fruits and

vegetables. • Avoid drinking alcohol in excess.• Consider calcium and vitamin

D supplements. Balance the calories you get

from food with the ones you burn through regular exercise, too. An inactive lifestyle and obesity are risk factors for colorectal cancer.

screenInG Is keyStarting at age 50, it’s crucial to get screened periodically for this disease. Screening helps detect cancer early, when it’s easier to treat. Some tests also help find precancerous growths, called polyps, so they can be removed

before they turn into cancer. You have several screening options:

• The fecal occult blood test, fecal immuno-chemical test, and stool DNA test examine a stool sample for signs of cancer.

• Flexible sigmoidoscopy, double-contrast barium enema, CT colonography, and colon-oscopy examine the colon itself to find both precancerous growths and cancer. Your physician can help you choose the

best screening method for you.” ■

the doctorronald s. kline, M.d.

Colon & Rectal Surgery

If you need a

specialist, please call

(888) 444-UsMd for

a free physician referral.