Disease Prevention in Men Screening Information by MedicineNet.com

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Disease Prevention in Men

Medical Author: Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD
Medical Editor: Jerry R. Balentine, DO, FACEP

Diabetes Prevention Doctor to Patient

Prediabetes - Could You Have It?

Medical Author: Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD
Medical Editor: William C. Shiel, Jr, MD, FACP, FACR

About 41 million Americans between the ages of 40 and 74 have "prediabetes." Prediabetes is a condition that, as the name implies, can be considered an early yet potentially reversible stage in the development of type II diabetes. Prediabetes is sometimes called impaired glucose tolerance or impaired fasting glucose (IGT/IFG). In prediabetes, a person's blood sugar (glucose) levels are slightly higher than the normal range, but not high enough for a true diagnosis of diabetes. People with prediabetes have a significant risk of developing full-blown diabetes.

Research has shown that some of the long-term effects of diabetes on the body, such as damage to the heart and blood vessels, can begin even when a person only has prediabetes. Having prediabetes increases your risk of developing cardiovascular disease by about 50% compared to people with normal blood sugar levels.

You won't necessarily know if you have prediabetes, since the condition usually causes no specific symptoms. If you are overweight or have other risk factors for the development of diabetes, your doctor can help you decide if screening for prediabetes is appropriate.

Disease prevention in men introduction

Routine screening tests are part of basic prevention medicine. All of the following screening tests are commonly available through your doctor. Take an active role in your own health care and discuss screening tests with your doctor early in life. Following is a list of diseases for which screening is recommended along with mention of the commonly used screening tests, which usually are safe and simple and can help detect many diseases before they become harmful.

High blood pressure (hypertension)

About one-sixth of all Americans have high blood pressure and the incidence of this disease increases with age. African-Americans are more likely than other races to have high blood pressure.

High blood pressure can cause arterial disease (atherosclerosis) that can lead to heart attack, congestive heart failure, stroke, and kidney failure.

Tests or procedures for high blood pressure

Blood pressure measurements

High blood pressure: systolic >140, and/or diastolic >90
Borderline high blood pressure: systolic 130-140, and/or diastolic 85-90

Who to test and how often

How often blood pressure should be checked depends on how severely elevated the blood pressure is, and also depends on the number of other heart attack and stroke risk factors that are present.
Adults with most recent normal blood pressure of systolic <130 and diastolic <85 should be checked at least every other year.
Adults with borderline high blood pressures (systolic 130-140 or diastolic 85-90) should be rechecked in 3-6 months.

Benefits of early detection

High blood pressure can cause arterial disease (atherosclerosis) that can lead to heart attack, congestive heart failure, stroke, and kidney failure.
High blood pressure can cause diseases without any early warning symptoms.
There is good evidence that treatment of high blood pressure can reduce the risk of heart diseases, stroke, and kidney failure.
There is good evidence that adults with borderline blood pressures can benefit from blood pressure lowering. Therefore, you should discuss with your doctor measures that you can take to reduce blood pressure, which can include reducing salt intake, exercise, and stress management.