Proactive healthcare wisdom in being vigilant about minor illnesses and preparing for checkups.

Men Should Take "Minor Illnesses" Seriously

Men often dismiss illnesses, ignoring "minor" ailments, which frequently leads to them developing into serious conditions. Therefore, modern men should take "minor" illnesses seriously in their health care.

Chest pain. Men sometimes experience chest pain after physical labor or exercise. The pain usually subsides after a short rest, so there's no need to panic. However, this could be an early symptom of heart disease, and it's best to see a doctor for a checkup. Even if nothing is wrong, a diagnosis is always reassuring.

Beware of hidden testicular cancer. If detected early, the cure rate for this disease can reach 85%. Men should regularly examine their genitals, ideally after a warm bath when the skin is soft.

Pay attention to moles. Moles themselves are not dangerous unless they become malignant. Regularly check your moles for any abnormalities, such as sudden enlargement, bleeding, or ulceration, to ensure early detection and avoid serious consequences from malignant transformation.

The Threat of High Blood Pressure. High blood pressure poses a threat to many organs, including the heart, brain, and kidneys, and is often the cause of sudden heart attacks or cerebral hemorrhages. Therefore, men should regularly check their blood pressure. Those with already high blood pressure should take medication as prescribed by their doctor, and should not stop medication arbitrarily even if their condition improves.

Beware of Long Toilet Time. Increased toilet time in men is generally related to constipation or hemorrhoids. In this case, eat more vegetables and fruits and drink more water. If the frequency of urination also increases, it may be due to prostatitis or benign prostatic hyperplasia, requiring a medical examination.

Understand Family Medical History. Many diseases are hereditary. Men should ideally know what diseases their elders and relatives have had. Targeted health care can prevent many diseases.

Prepare Well for Hospital Checkups (Part 1)

When going to the hospital for a health checkup or medical treatment, many tests have strict requirements. Preparation must be done according to these requirements; otherwise, it will affect the progress and results of the examination. Targeted preparation for the tests is essential for accurate results.

Biochemical tests: Fasting blood should be drawn before breakfast for more accurate results. This is especially important for tests such as liver function, blood sugar, and blood lipids, where fasting requirements are more stringent. Patients must arrive at the hospital on an empty stomach for these tests.

Electrocardiogram (ECG): Rest quietly for about 5 minutes before the test. Avoid running, eating a large meal, consuming cold drinks, or smoking, as these factors can lead to abnormal ECG readings and affect the diagnosis. For tests involving a large meal and a double-step exercise test, fasting is required on the day of the test.

Electroencephalogram (EEG): Wash your hair thoroughly the day before the test and avoid using hair oil. Stop taking sedatives, stimulants, and other medications affecting the nervous system 24 hours before the test to prevent false readings and ensure accurate results. Electroencephalography (EEG) must be performed within 3 hours after a meal. If you cannot eat before the test, follow your doctor's instructions and take 50 grams of sugar orally or receive 40 ml of 50% glucose intravenously to prevent hypoglycemia from affecting the test results.

Thyroid iodine uptake test. Fasting is required for this test. Do not take iodine-containing preparations or eat iodine-rich foods such as kelp, jellyfish, or seaweed before the test.

Renal blood flow imaging. Empty your bladder before the test. Do not drink tea or coffee, and do not take diuretics.

Preparing for a Medical Examination (Part Two)

Fiberoptic endoscopy. For bronchoscopy, fast and abstain from water for 4 hours to avoid vomiting due to stimulation during the examination. If you wear dentures, remove them before the examination to prevent them from dislodging and entering the trachea or esophagus during the test. Before a gastroscopy, fasting for 6-8 hours is required to prevent vomiting caused by intubation and to avoid affecting the examination results. Empty your bowels and bladder before the procedure. For a colonoscopy, eat a low-residue diet for 3 days before the procedure, take a laxative the day before, and have an enema 3 hours before the procedure to empty the bowels.

CT scan: Fasting and abstaining from water are mandatory before an abdominal CT scan to avoid artifacts that could affect image quality. Fasting and abstaining from water are not necessary for CT scans of other areas.

Selective cardiovascular angiography: Fasting for 3-4 hours is required before the procedure. Practice the necessary movements as instructed by your doctor, such as inhalation and breath-holding, to cooperate with the examination.

Cholecystography: Eat a fatty meal at noon the day before the oral contrast agent test to empty the gallbladder. Dinner should be oil-free and high in sugar. Take the contrast agent as instructed by your doctor around 7 pm after dinner, and then fast.

Intravenous contrast examination. Eat a fatty meal at noon the day before the examination, and fast on the morning of the examination. If you have acute inflammation, fever, abdominal pain, acute jaundice, etc., wait until you recover before undergoing this examination.

Urinary tract and male reproductive system contrast examination. Eat soft food for dinner the day before the examination, and then fast thereafter. Take a laxative the night before the examination to clear gas and feces from the intestines. Empty your bladder before the examination.