June is Men’s Health Month and a time to raise awareness of preventable health problems and encourage early detection and treatment of disease among men. Pella Regional is reminding the public that regular exams and screenings can reduce the risk of cancer and other chronic disease. Men are half as likely as women to go to the doctor in a two-year period and twice as likely to admit to never seeing a doctor in their adult lives, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Prevention starts with seeing a health care provider on a regular basis, according to Dr. Scot Dykstra. Establishing baselines for risk factors such as blood pressure, cholesterol, weight, and monitoring how those risk factors change over time will assist the provider in catching potentially dangerous conditions early, when they’re still treatable. Dykstra encourages men to make regular visits to their health care provider and discuss all the preventative measures for their age and risk factors while at the office.

To schedule an annual exam at any of the medical clinics in Pella, Knoxville, Ottumwa, Prairie City, Sully, Bussey, New Sharon or Monroe, visit https://www.pellahealth.org/request-an-appointment/.