Bay Area Modern Medical Center

Everyone has risk factors for health conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, and other health conditions. Some risk factors cannot be controlled, such as genetic predisposition, but some risk factors can be controlled or changed to help you live a healthier life. Here are three health risk factors that you can control with help from your doctor.

Blood Pressure

Having high blood pressure is typically not a major health problem in and of itself, but it does increase your risk of heart disease, heart attack, and stroke. Keeping your blood pressure under control will also help relieve chronic headaches, make you feel more relaxed, and improve vision and kidney health. You can control your blood pressure with diet, exercise, and, if necessary, medications.

Cholesterol

Cholesterol is another factor that puts you at risk of heart disease and stroke. When cholesterol levels rise, there is a higher chance of veins and arteries becoming blocked, leading to heart attack or stroke. You can control your cholesterol with diet, exercise, and, if necessary, medications.

Lifestyle Changes

One of the things that affects your health more than anything is your lifestyle. How you eat, sleep, exercise, and other habits make a huge difference in your overall health. Your doctor can help you negate some of your health risk factors by helping you make lasting lifestyle changes for the better. This might mean a dietary change, a new exercise routine, quitting smoking or drinking, and other lifestyle changes.

If you are interested in learning more about the factors that affect your health risk and what can be done about them, contact us today for more information or to schedule an appointment.

If you have health insurance, you have probably been asked by your health insurance provider to choose a primary care doctor. A primary care doctor can be an internist, a family practice doctor, or a geriatric specialist, depending on your age group and needs. It is important that you have a primary care doctor for a number of reasons that has nothing to do with health insurance.

Coordinate Care

It is generally a good idea to have one person in charge of coordinating care. Just like you would have one person primarily in charge of coordinating a project at work, so too is it best for one person to be the point of contact for healthcare. Having one point of contact makes it more likely that drug interactions and other conflicting therapies will be caught before they become a problem. These doctors can also make sure that all of your specialists are on the same page.

Preventative Medicine

The old saying goes, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” This statement holds true when it comes to healthcare. It is always less expensive, less painful, and less life threatening to prevent health conditions from happening or getting worse than to treat it later. Preventative medicine may include things such as taking maintenance medications for blood pressure or cholesterol to mitigate the risk of other health conditions.

Early Detection

If you have a primary care doctor that you see periodically on a schedule, it will help make sure that any health conditions that might arise will be detected and diagnosed early. Even if your primary care doctor has to send you to a specialist for diagnosis and treatment, they will be able to recognize symptoms and get the ball rolling. The earlier a medical condition is detected and diagnosed, the easier it is to treat.

If you are looking for a new primary care doctor, contact us today for more information or to schedule an appointment.

If you are like most men, you tend to avoid trips to the doctor. It may seem as though having an annual physical is a waste of time and money, yet there are some very good reasons that you should have this annual physical exam and preventative testing. In addition to being able to prevent or treat conditions before they become serious medical issues, there are some great incentives for getting your annual physical.

Health Insurance Incentives

Many health insurance companies are now offering cash incentives to get your annual physical. This is because health insurance companies know that preventative medicine is the key to keeping medical costs low. Some insurance companies offer cash incentives that can be used to pay your premium or buy food and healthcare goods. You can also use the incentives to pay for prescriptions.

Lifestyle Incentives

As an active man, you want to make sure that you are able to maintain the lifestyle you please. Whether you enjoy recreational sports, fishing, hiking, or other physical activities, it is important for your overall happiness and wellbeing to be able to continue living the lifestyle in which you are accustomed. By getting an annual physical, you can ensure that your health remains good enough to keep doing the things you enjoy the most.

Decreased Healthcare Costs

Even if you have great health insurance, healthcare costs money. If you don’t get preventative screenings and examinations, healthcare problems can creep up and take over your finances. Most medical conditions can be treated more easily and at a lower cost if they are caught early. In addition, some preventative medicine will be able to catch risk factors such as high cholesterol, blood pressure, or blood sugar, which can then be controlled before they lead to expensive medical conditions.

If you haven’t yet had your annual physical this year, contact us today for more information about incentives or to schedule your appointment.

Many men fear prostate problems. Prostate cancer is a real concern for many men, especially if there is a family history of the condition. Yet there are more prostate conditions than just cancer. Although you are having problems with your prostate, it may be a condition that can be treated or is not alarming in any way. Here are the three most common prostate conditions.

Prostatitis

This is the most common prostate condition found in men. Prostatitis is an inflammation and/or swelling of the prostate. The causes of prostatitis are not known or understood, but it is believed it may be caused by a microorganism. It may also be related to chemicals or an infection in the urinary tract. It can also be caused by nerve damage to the pelvic area. This prostate condition is treated by addressing the symptoms of pain, discomfort, and inflammation.

Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia

Benign prostatic hyperplasia, or BPH, is a prostate condition in which the prostate is enlarged, but not a sign of cancer. When the prostate is enlarged, it can cause complications with sexual and urinary health. There are a number of treatments available for this prostate condition, including lifestyle changes, medications, minimally invasive procedures, or traditional surgery.

Prostate Cancer

Although it is not as common as you might think, an enlarged prostate does sometimes mean a diagnosis of cancer. However, a diagnosis of prostate cancer is not necessarily a prediction of the end. There are many successful treatments, and some patients recover completely from the condition.

If you are noticing problems with your sexual or urinary health, it could be a sign of prostate conditions. Contact us today to learn more or to schedule your appointment.

Many men are aware of the risk of prostate cancer, but did you know that the prostate can cause urinary issues even when there is no risk of cancer? Most men take the prostate for granted, if they even think about it at all, but the prostate can become inflamed or enlarged, causing a variety of urinary issues that are very treatable. Here’s what you need to know.

Urinary Changes with Age

The prostate naturally changes over time. As it goes through these changes, changes in urinary function are normal. Some men experience minor changes to their urinary habits, but other men may experience some severe symptoms that are uncomfortable or embarrassing. The first urinary changes are in puberty, but the prostate begins to enlarge again in your mid-30s and continues to enlarge until about age 70. With these enlargements, urinary changes can occur.

Types of Urinary Changes

Not all urinary changes are the result of an enlarged or inflamed prostate. These urinary symptoms may or may not be due to your prostate, but it is a good idea to schedule an appointment to learn the cause of your urinary changes. Common urinary changes related to the prostate include:

• Frequent urination
• Sudden need to urinate
• Urine stream is slow to start
• Dribbling urine after using the toilet
• No force to the urine flow
• Needing to go again soon after urination

If you have these or other symptoms of urinary issues, it is important to have a conversation with your doctor. If these problems are caused by an enlarged or inflamed prostate, there are several available treatments to correct the problem. Contact us today for more information or to schedule an appointment.

Low testosterone is a big problem for many men. Changes in your hormone levels as you age are normal, but they can be troublesome. There are some treatments available that can boost testosterone so that you are more comfortable and have fewer health risks. Here are five signs that show you have low testosterone and should talk to your doctor.

Sexual Signs

Low testosterone can cause several symptoms of sexual dysfunction. You may have a low sex drive, meaning that you have less of a desire for sex. When you do have a desire for sex, you may find that you have difficulty with erectile dysfunction. You may also notice that you have lower semen production. Your testicle size may also decrease.

Visual Signs

There are some signs of low testosterone that you and your loved ones can actually physically see. Hair loss is one of the biggest signs of low testosterone. Many men lose their hair over time or have a hairline that recedes or changes with age. The hair loss you experience with low testosterone is a bit different. You may notice large amounts of hair being lost each time you use a comb or brush.

You will also notice that your body will start to look different. You will experience a loss of muscle mass if testosterone is low for too long. You will also notice some weight gain, and your BMI will increase.

Mental Health

There are several mental health signs that can also be indicators of low testosterone. Mood changes with low testosterone are common. Researchers have found that men with low testosterone are more irritable, lack focus, and are more prone to depression. You will also notice the onset of some cognitive issues such as poor memory.

If you have any of these or other signs of low testosterone, don’t suffer in silence. There are treatments that will allow you to live a more normal life. Contact us today for more information or to schedule an appointment.

Many men feel that having a primary care physician is a waste of time and money. Most men avoid the doctor at all costs, going only when they are pushed into it by a spouse or medical condition. Yet it is a very good idea to have a solid primary care physician that can help you keep a handle on your health so that you can remain active in your work and hobbies. Having a primary care physician that you can trust is extremely important.

Avoiding Medications

Many men dislike taking medications for any reason. If this describes you, it is important that you have a primary care physician that understands that medication is not the solution to everything. You want to make sure that you can trust your doctor not to prescribe anything that is not absolutely necessary. If you are prescribed something, you want to feel confident that it is required and will be more beneficial than harmful.

Understanding Male Issues

While your average primary care physician is somewhat familiar with men’s health, there is something to be said for having a primary care doctor that specializes in men’s health and conditions. When you have a doctor that you can trust to catch illnesses and run the appropriate tests, you can be assured that you are going to get the appropriate treatment. It also helps to eliminate unnecessary doctor’s visits and testing.

Limited Visits

Sometimes it might seem that doctors require follow up visits solely to get more money out of you. It is important that you trust your primary care physician so that you are more likely to keep your appointments and follow through with any testing that is required. The best primary care doctors understand that you don’t want to visit them unless there is a problem, or for your annual physical. These doctors are more trustworthy than others.

If you are interested in changing your primary care physician so that you have a doctor you can trust, contact us today for more information or to schedule an appointment. We specialize in men’s health so that you can trust we will do the right thing for you.

Many people worry about high cholesterol. Having improper cholesterol levels can be a precursor to heart disease. It is a good idea to keep an eye on your cholesterol levels, especially as you get older. Cholesterol naturally increases with age, so the older you get the more likely it will not be what it should be.

Types of Cholesterol

Being worried about high cholesterol is common, but did you know that there are actually different types of cholesterol? LDL cholesterol is bad cholesterol that can be too high. Yet HDL cholesterol is good cholesterol, and this number can actually be too low. If both numbers are off, you have a much higher risk of heart disease and stroke.

What Affects Cholesterol

There are a lot of factors that affect cholesterol, and it is important to understand that because of this everyone has a different ideal level. Your age, your gender, and your weight can all affect your cholesterol levels. At different ages and weights your ideal cholesterol number can change over time.

What is the Best Cholesterol?

As a general rule, any number over 200 LDL cholesterol is too high. Likewise, any number under 40 HDL cholesterol is too low. Most people should be right around 100 for both types of cholesterol. However, everyone is different, and this can change with time or weight. It is best to discuss your cholesterol with your doctor. What you may think is too high, may actually be okay for your age and weight.

If you are concerned about high cholesterol, contact us today for an appointment. We will examine you and your medical history and help determine the ideal level for your cholesterol. If your cholesterol is out of balance, we can help you remedy this to reduce your risk of heart disease and stroke. Contact us today for an appointment.

An annual physical may seem like an unnecessary burden, but there are some excellent reasons not to skip this appointment. Annual physicals are so important to your overall health that insurance companies are starting to offer monetary rewards for completing your annual physical each year as incentive. Even if you dislike going to the doctor as most men do, it is important to bite the bullet and be seen.

Disease Prevention

Many diseases can be successfully avoided or treated early if they are detected right away. Sometimes, the symptoms of these diseases are negligible and can be easily ignored. You may not have any indication on your own that you have diabetes, heart disease, cancer, or other illness. With a careful examination and routine lab tests, your doctor can detect the beginnings of these diseases before they become severely detrimental to your overall health.

Update Prescriptions

While you may be able to get your maintenance medications refilled with a quick call to your doctor, for most conditions, your doctor will want to see you periodically. Even if your blood pressure has stayed the same for years and your medication has not changed, your doctor will want to follow up with you before renewing your prescription. The same is true for many other medical conditions. Going to your annual physical allows your doctor to fully examine you and determine if your medications should stay the same, and they will at that time offer you refills.

Lifestyle Coaching

Your doctor will ask you many questions about your lifestyle during your annual physical. Through these answers and the information they gather from your exam and lab tests, doctors can explain how your lifestyle is contributing to your overall health, or lack of health. Often, making healthy lifestyle changes can head off disease and decrease the need for medications.

If you have not had your annual physical, contact us today for an appointment.

Erectile dysfunction can have many potential causes, and not all of them are difficult to treat. Often erectile dysfunction can be easily corrected through the treatment of other underlying medical conditions. It is important to see your doctor for erectile dysfunction to learn the cause and seek treatment. Here are the three most common causes of erectile dysfunction.

Poor Cardiac Health

Think of your penis as your check engine light. Often, when cardiac problems first arise, the first symptom that you notice is erectile dysfunction. It takes a tremendous amount of blood circulation to cause the penis to be erect. If there are problems with your cardiac health, not enough blood can be pumped to the area. Some of the health conditions that this could indicate include high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, and obesity.

Medications

Many medications for common illnesses and medical conditions can cause erectile dysfunction. Instead of suffering through the effects, talk to your doctor about alternative medications. If you suspect that your erectile dysfunction is due to medications that you are taking, take a list of medications to your doctor and ask them to check each one for side effects. You can also often find out from your pharmacist if it is a natural side effect of any of your medications. Most medical conditions have multiple treatment options, so there is no reason to suffer in silence.

Diabetes

High blood sugar levels have a direct impact on vascular health. There are many veins in the penis, and these filling with blood is what makes it erect. When your blood sugar is high, your blood cannot circulate throughout your body as efficiently as normal. Erectile dysfunction can often be a warning sign of diabetes.

If you have erectile dysfunction, do not suffer in silence. It is important to discover the root cause and seek treatment if necessary. Contact us today for an appointment.

As a general rule, men are indifferent about healthcare. Surveys have found that about 63 percent of men do not go to the doctor until they have severe and prolonged pain. Even though some men do keep their annual physicals and have a primary care doctor, most men do not know what to discuss at these annual checkups and have no knowledge about what is being measured or why. It is important to be a good health consumer to keep yourself healthy for years to come.

Preventative Medicine

Men need to understand what measurements need to be monitored and why. Knowing how your blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar, and testosterone levels function and why they are important could help you see your doctor more regularly. It is important that these metrics are measured frequently, particularly as you get older. Often when these metrics are below or above normal, you may not have any symptoms that you can pinpoint. Yet they may be signs of more serious conditions.

Early Detection

If you have pain or symptoms that are not normal for you, it is important to see your doctor right away rather than waiting for it to get worse. Often, men delay seeing their doctor until they are in the late stages of a medical condition, at which point treatment options are limited. Instead of waiting, you should see your doctor as soon as you notice something amiss.

Men’s Clinics

One of the primary reasons that men do not see the doctor is that they don’t know how to articulate their concerns or problems. Men’s clinics are best suited for these patients because they are staffed with men who understand these issues. We are a dedicated men’s clinic, with male doctors and staff that can help you feel more comfortable. We are familiar with men’s health problems specifically, and can ask the right questions and explain your conditions to you in a way that you can understand. Contact us today for an appointment.

Erectile dysfunction can be caused by any number of factors, including medications and health conditions. New studies are showing that there is a link between erectile dysfunction and heart disease. While not every case of erectile dysfunction means that a cardiac event is in your future, it could be an early sign.

Erectile Dysfunction and Heart Disease

One of the causes of erectile dysfunction is blood flow to the penis. The penile arteries are quite large, and they are often the first sign of a blood flow issue. When erectile dysfunction is caused by blood flow, it could be an early sign that you could have a cardiac event within a few years. Many doctors are beginning to suggest that if you have erectile dysfunction as well as other heart disease risks that you see a cardiologist for an assessment.

What to Do

If you have erectile dysfunction that is not directly caused by medication that you take or other factors, consider seeing a doctor to determine the cause. If the cause is blood flow or circulation issues, your doctor should do a screening of other risk factors to determine if a referral to a cardiologist is required. Some of the risk factors for heart disease include:

• Obesity
• High blood pressure
• Diabetes
• High cholesterol

You may also be at higher risk for heart disease if you drink heavily or are a tobacco user. If you have any of these risk factors in addition to erectile dysfunction, you should contact our offices today for an appointment. We can determine the exact cause of your erectile dysfunction and refer you to a cardiologist for evaluation if needed.