Humana HealthBeat Transcript Archive

May 8

Heart Disease

Previous research has shown that depression in men and women is linked to heart disease, but a study published in Archives of Internal Medicine found that only men faced an increased risk of heart disease-related death.

In the study, men with depression had a 71-percent higher risk of heart disease and were more than two times more likely to die of heart disease than men without depression. But while depressed women faced a 73-percent higher risk of heart disease than non-depressed women, they were not at any greater risk of dying of heart disease.

RESOURCE:

Arch Intern Med. 2000;160:1261-1268
archinte.ama-assn.org/issues/current/full/ioi90367.html

Prostate Cancer

This year more than 180-thousand men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer and more than 31-thousand men will die from it.

Some men are at higher risk than others, such as African-American men. Their risk is higher than any other group. Unfortunately, the reason for this increased risk is not known. Men with a family history of prostate cancer are also at a higher risk, as are older men. Prostate cancer is rarely seen in men younger than 50 and the older you are the higher your risk.

There are no visible symptoms of prostate cancer until the tumor has grown and spread. Some of the symptoms, like difficulty or pain with urination, can mimic non-cancerous conditions. If you have these symptoms, or other symptoms such as blood in your urine or semen, let your doctor know.

If this is such a common cancer, what about screening tests?

The digital rectal exam, and the prostate specific antigen, or PSA are most commonly used for screening. PSA, is an enzyme that can be measured in the blood; it can be abnormal in prostate cancer, but also in other conditions as well. This lack of specificity is one of the reasons that there is controversy about using the PSA. The other reason for the debate about current screening options is that it is still unknown if screening actually helps to save lives. However, men, especially those at highest risk, should speak with their doctor about these tests and learn the risks and benefits of screening.

RESOURCES:

Prostate Cancer
CancerNet
National Cancer Institute
cancernet.nci.nih.gov/wyntk_pubs/prostate.htm

Screening for Prostate Cancer
CancerNet
National Cancer Institute
cancernet.nci.nih.gov/Cancer_Types/Prostate_Cancer.shtml

Prostate Cancer
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
www.cdc.gov/cancer/prostate/prostate.htm

May 8
Heart Disease
	Previous research has shown that depression in men and women is linked to heart disease, but a study published in Archives of Internal Medicine found that only men faced an increased risk of heart disease-related death. In the study, men with depression had a 71-percent higher risk of heart disease and were more than two times more likely to die of heart disease than men without depression. But while depressed women faced a 73-percent higher risk of heart disease than non-depressed women, they were not at any greater risk of dying of heart disease.
	RESOURCE: Arch Intern Med. 2000;160:1261-1268 archinte.ama-assn.org/issues/current/full/ioi90367.html
Prostate Cancer
	This year more than 180-thousand men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer and more than 31-thousand men will die from it. Some men are at higher risk than others, such as African-American men. Their risk is higher than any other group. Unfortunately, the reason for this increased risk is not known. Men with a family history of prostate cancer are also at a higher risk, as are older men. Prostate cancer is rarely seen in men younger than 50 and the older you are the higher your risk. There are no visible symptoms of prostate cancer until the tumor has grown and spread. Some of the symptoms, like difficulty or pain with urination, can mimic non-cancerous conditions. If you have these symptoms, or other symptoms such as blood in your urine or semen, let your doctor know.

	If this is such a common cancer, what about screening tests? The digital rectal exam, and the prostate specific antigen, or PSA are most commonly used for screening. PSA, is an enzyme that can be measured in the blood; it can be abnormal in prostate cancer, but also in other conditions as well. This lack of specificity is one of the reasons that there is controversy about using the PSA. The other reason for the debate about current screening options is that it is still unknown if screening actually helps to save lives. However, men, especially those at highest risk, should speak with their doctor about these tests and learn the risks and benefits of screening.
	RESOURCES: Prostate Cancer CancerNet National Cancer Institute cancernet.nci.nih.gov/wyntk_pubs/prostate.htm Screening for Prostate Cancer CancerNet National Cancer Institute cancernet.nci.nih.gov/Cancer_Types/Prostate_Cancer.shtml Prostate Cancer Centers for Disease Control and Prevention www.cdc.gov/cancer/prostate/prostate.htm