Men’s Wellness Panel
This comprehensive wellness panel for men measures three key biomarkers in the blood to give you important information about your health. Combined with the vascular screening results, this panel provides a deeper level of understanding regarding your risk for developing chronic disease.
What this Men’s Wellness Panel Will Tell You
This comprehensive wellness panel for men analyzes your blood to help you understand your risk for diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and prostate cancer.
- Glucose level screening (A1c) measures the average glucose (blood sugar) level over the previous 2-3 months, which is an indicator for diabetes risk.
- The C-Reactive protein screening measures the level of C-reactive protein in the blood. Higher than normal CRP levels indicate possible inflammation in the body, which can be a marker for cardiovascular disease.
- Prostate cancer screening: this screening measures the level of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) in the blood. PSA is a protein produced not only by malignant, but also by normal cells of the prostate gland. Despite clear evidence that PSA testing has contributed to lowering the death rate from prostate cancer1, PSA testing by itself is not an indication of cancer. There are other conditions that can cause elevated PSA levels, including an enlarged prostate or infection. Higher than expected PSA levels in the blood will most likely lead to your physician taking additional steps to understand why your PSA levels are high, which will include a complete physical examination.
Men’s Wellness Panel Screening Details
- A1c screening measures the average blood sugar level for the past 2 to 3 months. The American Diabetes Association recommends that this test be the primary screening tool used to diagnose prediabetes, type 1 and type 2 diabetes.
- The high-sensitivity C-reactive protein screening detects even small changes in the C-reactive protein levels in the blood. This is important when evaluating a person’s overall risk for developing cardiovascular disease. Always share your C-reactive protein (CRP) test results with your personal physician, to help you determine if your hs-CRP screening results require further diagnostic evaluation.
- A men’s wellness panel should always include a prostate cancer screening, which is a finger-stick blood sample used to measure the amount of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) in the blood. Your prostate screening results will indicate if the PSA level in your blood is normal or abnormal for your age group and will also indicate if you should see your personal physician about your PSA test results.
About The Conditions Included in This Comprehensive Wellness Panel for Men
- A1c screening is the most widely used screening for diabetes risk. Diabetes occurs when the body does not produce or properly use insulin (hormone that converts food into energy). The most common type of diabetes is Type 2, in which the body does not use insulin properly, called insulin resistance. Diabetes is widespread—9% of adults in the U.S. have diabetes, and over 20% are not aware they have it.2Long term diabetes that is not managed can cause significant damage to the eyes, circulation problems in the legs (which could lead to amputation), and many other devastating health issues. With a simple finger-stick blood sample, you can understand your risk for developing diabetes. Click here to review the risk factors.
- C-Reactive protein, a by-product of inflammation in the body, has been linked by many studies to heart disease3. When plaque forms in the arteries, it causes injury to the arteries, causing inflammation and releasing C-Reactive protein into the blood. A CRP screening helps to evaluate a person’s overall risk for cardiovascular disease. There are no risk factors for CRP; the screening is appropriate for those who have risk factors for cardiovascular disease: diabetes, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, obesity, smoking, and a family history of stroke or heart disease.
- Prostate cancer is a common cancer in men. Elevated levels of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) in the blood could indicate an infection or an enlarged prostate instead of cancer. The wide availability of PSA screening has meant that many prostate cancers are now found earlier and can be treated more effectively, but PSA testing is only the first step when prostate cancer is possible, so please discuss your screening results with your doctor. Click here to review the risk factors.
Who is this Comprehensive Wellness Panel for Men Appropriate For?
Men age 40+ who want to take a proactive approach to their health.
Appropriate Ages for the Men’s Panel
This comprehensive wellness panel for men is appropriate for men age 40+, or younger for men with risk factors for diabetes, cardiovascular disease, or prostate cancer.
Frequency of Wellness Testing For Men
This wellness testing for men is recommended on an annual basis.
Schedule this Screening
*Screening availability may be limited by location.
References
1. American Society of Clinical Oncology, cancer.net, January 2019, https://www.cancer.net/cancer-types/prostate-cancer/statistics
2. Centers for Disease Control, https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2017/p0718-diabetes-report.html
3. C-Reactive Protein Test to screen for heart disease, Harvard Health Publishing, Harvard Medical School, March 21, 2017, https://www.health.harvard.edu/heart-health/c-reactive-protein-test-to-screen-for-heart-disease
