THE DOCTOR IS IN
OP-ED BY DR. ADIL MANZOOR
Good health should be an absolute priority for everyone regardless of age, sex, and race; if you’re human, you deserve to be healthy. However, this is not always the case, especially for men in underserved and under-resourced communities.
Unfortunately, society isn’t so fair to men and their health today. This is typified by the number of men who endure a lot of pain without seeking medical attention because they feel it is “normal.” That mindset is totally wrong and has to change now. A step in the right direction is getting medical checkups and periodic screenings for certain conditions, three of which we will briefly examine.
First on our list is HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus). The awareness for this condition is at an all-time high, which is fabulous news considering how severe the condition is. However, there is still an estimated 161,800 people in the United States unaware of their status. What’s more, about 40% of new infections are transmitted by people who do not know they have HIV.
While there is no cure for the condition, an ART treatment therapy, if started early enough, can ensure people with the virus live healthy for several years. Note the clause, “if started early enough.” This is why regular screening is essential, particularly for high-risk individuals.
The CDC suggests everyone between 13 and 64 get tested annually for HIV. If your behavior puts you at more risk of getting the virus, you should test for the virus multiple times a year. Also, sexually active gay and bisexual men should ensure they test more frequently – say three to four times a year.
Testing is the only way to know if a person has HIV. Fortunately, it is not a complicated process and can be done by professionals or personally. One of the commonest and most reliable testing methods is by drawing blood and performing diagnostic tests on it. Professionals should do this, and the expert team at Garden State Street Medicine is offering free blood draws for men on June 11, 2022, at Presbyterian Church of Ghana, City of Orange, New Jersey.
Another sexually transmitted disease that will be tested on that day is syphilis. Unlike HIV, syphilis is a bacterial infection, but they’re similar in that persons with them can transmit them unknowingly. This means it is possible to have syphilis and transmit it without even knowing.
Screening tests for syphilis are usually done by drawing blood or spinal fluid. Nowadays, syphilis and HIV tests are done together using the rapid point-of-care tests (RDT) that can detect both of these infections with a single blood specimen.
Every man should get tested for syphilis at least once a year. Also, individuals with multiple sex partners and those that have sex with men who have sex with men are more likely to get syphilis and should test more regularly.
The third and final condition Garden State Street Medicine will test on June 11, 2022, is for hepatitis C. Like the other two conditions, hepatitis C can be transmitted sexually, with reports showing higher frequency among men who have sex with other men.
Hepatitis means inflammation of the liver, often caused by excessive alcohol intake, certain medications and toxins, and some medical conditions. Considering how essential the liver is, any condition that affects its function can greatly diminish the quality of life.
There are different types of hepatitis, with hepatitis A, B, and C the commonest in the United States. Hepatitis C is the most severe the hepatitis viruses. However, even people who have an acute infection can recover without permanent liver damage, but only when treatment commences early.
As with the other conditions we have examined, it is possible to have and transmit hepatitis C without being aware. This is why regular screening and testing are crucial. Diagnosis is by a hepatitis C antibody blood test.
The journey to improved health and wellness for men, especially in underserved and under-resourced communities, has to start with regular health checkups.
This article was written by Dr. Adil Manzoor DO, a Board Certified Internist & Board Eligible Pediatrician, who works as a Hospitalist, and Emergency Room Physician. He is also the current President of Garden State Street Medicine, a non-profit organization whose sole purpose is to provide free preventive and acute urgent care services for the homeless. He is also the co-founder of his own unique medical practice Mobile Medicine NJ.
References
- https://www.cdc.gov/hiv/testing/index.html
- https://www.hiv.gov/hiv-basics/hiv-testing/learn-about-hiv-testing/who-should-get-tested
- https://bmcinfectdis.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12879-018-3567-x
- https://medlineplus.gov/lab-tests/syphilis-tests/#:~:text=Screening%20tests%20for%20syphilis%20usually,on%20blood%20or%20spinal%20fluid
- https://www.cdc.gov/hepatitis/hcv/HepatitisCOverview.htm
