You At Your Best

Poor heart health may lead to hearing loss sPeCiAl to NWA DeMoCrAt-gAzette Eating right and exercising regularly can affect more than men's cardiovascular health. New evidence shows a link between poor heart health and hearing loss. "The inner ear is extremely sensitive to blood flow, so obstructions in the arteries and veins – symptoms of impaired cardiovascular health – can impact the peripheral and central auditory systems, leading to hearing impairment," Dr. Dustin Richards, audiologist and owner of Wolfpack Hearing Clinic in Fayetteville points out. "Conversely, when the heart is healthy and the flow of blood is unimpeded, hearing problems are fewer." Maintaining a healthy lifestyle will not only add years to your lifespan, but will reduce your odds of developing hearing loss. Take preventative measures such as eating healthier, losing weight, quitting smoking and maintaining a healthy blood pressure. Patients already diagnosed with heart disease should consider a hearing evaluation. The audiologists at Wolfpack hearing in Fayetteville are skilled in diagnosing and treating hearing loss. For more information or to set up a hearing evaluation, go to Wolfpackhearing.com, or call (479) 957-9300. sPeCiAl to NWA DeMoCrAt-gAzette Prostate cancer kills tens of thousands of men every year. According to the American Cancer Society, prostate cancer is the third leading cause of death in American men, behind only lung cancer and colorectal cancer. The World Cancer Research Fund International notes that age-adjusted incidence rates of prostate cancer have increased dramatically, citing the increased availability of screening for prostate-specific antigen, or PSA, for helping to find prostate cancer in men who otherwise might never know they were sick. In fact, the Prostate Cancer Foundation notes that there usually aren't any early warning signs for prostate cancer, which only highlights the importance of routine screenings. Tumors resulting from prostate cancer may not push against anything to cause pain, even as they are growing. So men who do not receive routine prostate cancer screenings may live for years with the disease without knowing it. Such screenings can be a great ally in the fight against prostate cancer, but men also can remain on the lookout for potential signs of the disease. The PCF notes that, in rare cases, prostate cancer can produce the following symptoms, which men should immediately bring to the attention of their physicians. Issues with urination Urinary issues do not necessarily mean a man has cancer. But such issues should never be ignored, and any that arise should be brought to the attention of a physician immediately. Men might mistake a growing need to urinate frequently as a simple side effect of aging and accept it without telling their doctors. But a need to urinate frequently, especially at night, might be a symptom of prostate cancer. Some men may experience difficulty starting or holding back urination, but those who are experiencing difficulty starting or holding back urination should contact their physicians upon the appearance of these difficulties. Men with prostate cancer may experience weak, dribbling or interrupted flow of urination. Such issues may be symptomatic of other conditions, so men should not immediately assume they have cancer. Erection and ejaculation difficulties Men might be embarrassed to report certain symptoms to their physicians. But in such situations, it's important to remember that reporting any difficulties can be the first step toward healing, while avoiding such discussions can have long- lasting and potentially fatal consequences. Some men experience difficulty in having an erection, and that difficulty may or may not be a byproduct of prostate cancer. Men may also notice a decrease in ejaculate or begin experiencing painful ejaculations. While these symptoms are not always a result of prostate cancer, they should be reported to a physician who can then take measures to confirm or rule out the presence of cancer. Additional symptoms The PCF notes that conditions such as prostatitis and benign prostatic hypertrophy, or BPH, are common, benign diseases that can cause symptoms similar to prostate cancer. But men should still report symptoms such as blood in their urine or semen, pressure or pain in their rectum and/or pain or stiffness in their lower back, hips, pelvis, or thighs to their physicians the moment they begin to feel such symptoms. Men concerned about prostate cancer or interested in learning more about screenings can visit www.pcf.org for more information. Family history and race are two significant risk factors for prostate cancer. While the Prostate Cancer Foundation notes that nearly 60 percent of all prostate cancers are diagnosed in men over the age of 65, making age the single greatest risk factor for prostate cancer, men with family histories of the disease and/or those of a certain race must recognize that their vulnerability to the disease is greater than others', even if they are nowhere near retirement age. According to the PCF, African American men are 73 percent more likely to develop prostate cancer compared to Caucasian men. African American men are also 2.4 times more likely to die from the disease than Caucasian men, which only serves to emphasize the importance that African American men must place on discussing prostate cancer and prostate cancer screenings with their physicians. Men with a relative who has developed prostate cancer are twice as likely to develop the disease than those without such family histories. That risk is even greater among men with more than one relative who has been diagnosed with prostate cancer. The PCF notes that men with two or more relatives who have had prostate cancer are nearly four times as likely to be diagnosed with the disease than those without such a link. Men whose relatives were diagnosed with prostate cancer before age 65 have an even higher risk of getting the disease than men whose relatives were diagnosed after turning 65. But men should also be mindful of their family histories with other cancers, as men may be at a greater risk of getting prostate cancer if their families have a history of breast cancer, colon cancer or pancreatic cancer. Potential symptoms of prostate cancer did you know? sPoNsor CoNteNt 12 | YOU AT YOUR BEST | nwAdg.cOm/YOUATYOURBEST AUgUST - mEn'S HEAlTH | SATURdAY, JUlY 27, 2019 Located in East Fayetteville 2630 E Citizens Dr. #7 (479) 957-9300 wolfpackhearing.com Our patients succeed. You will, too! Best BestNWA.com of Northwest Arkansas the

• Cover