Men should be aware of these common GI issues
Reviewed by Dr. Clark Harrison
June marks the beginning of warm weather, outdoor activities, father’s day celebrations, and in Reno, the wild, west rodeo! But June is also Men’s Health Month, a month-long campaign meant to increase awareness about health issues that are important to men.
When it comes to GI issues, everyone experiences some level of gastrointestinal discomfort at one point or another in their lives. However, men are much less likely to go to a doctor than women when they’re having problems.
According to a survey conducted by the Cleveland Clinic, 40% of men nationwide don’t visit their doctor for yearly check-ups, citing several reasons for their absence. Some of these excuses are busy lives, fear of finding something wrong, or general discomfort with endoscopic procedures, like colonoscopies. Even so, routine exams like colonoscopies can be lifesaving and should be performed beginning at the age of 50 for most men. If there’s a family history of colon cancer, screenings should be done at an earlier age.
Colorectal Cancer
Colorectal cancer is the third leading cause of all cancer-related deaths, and it’s expected to kill nearly 53,000 people in the U.S. in 2021 – that’s nearly the entire population of Carson City, Nevada, at 55,000 people! Though colorectal cancer affects people of all ages and genders, the cancer is slightly more common in men. According to the American Cancer Society, men have a 4.35% likelihood of contracting colorectal cancer as opposed to the 4.0% likelihood of it occurring in women.
“Due to lifesaving colonoscopy screenings, the death rate from colorectal cancer has dropped by nearly a third in recent years,” says Clark Harrison, MD. “This makes it all the more important for everyone to get their routinely scheduled procedures.” There are over 1.5 million survivors of colorectal cancer as of 2021.
Aside from colorectal cancer, there are other GI issues that tend to be a bit more of a problem for men than women, including Barrett’s esophagus and ulcers.
Barrett’s Esophagus
For the most part, both men and women commonly suffer from gastroesophageal reflux, more commonly called heartburn or acid reflux, with about the same frequency. Chronic gastroesophageal reflux can cause serious complications, one of these being Barrett’s Esophagus. Keeping track of how often you experience heartburn or acid reflux can help your doctor determine whether to test for Barrett’s Esophagus. Men have a higher rate of this precancerous condition, which can lead to esophageal cancer if left untreated. Treatment for this condition can be easily implemented with a doctor if a patient is diagnosed with Barrett’s Esophagus.
Peptic Ulcers
Another GI condition more common in men is peptic ulcer disease, which is ulceration of the stomach or upper small bowel (also called duodenal ulcers). Peptic ulcers typically appear between ages 30-50 and often cause significant pain or bleeding. Ulcer symptoms can include a gnawing pain in the abdomen, heartburn, indigestion, feeling full on an empty stomach, bloating, gas, or even nausea. Although, it is possible that people with ulcers experience no symptoms. Treatment for ulcers may include medication or antibiotics, depending on the cause of the condition.
Health Tips for all Genders
The best tip we can give is to make sure that you are going to the doctor for your annual wellness checks, be honest and open with them, and make sure that you are doing your routine procedures, like colonoscopies, when it’s time to do them.
As GI doctors, we also recommend eating plenty of fiber, lean proteins, and avoiding sugar, excess saturated fats, and processed foods with artificial ingredients. All of this will help regulate your gut health and optimize your overall health in the long run.
Dr. Harrison grew up in Virginia and attended medical school there. After completing his fellowship training at Oregon Health Sciences University in gastroenterology, he moved to Reno and joined Gastroenterology Consultants in 1992. Since then, he and his wife have raised two children in an area they love to call home. Dr. Harrison has a special interest in promoting colon cancer screening and prevention.