Comprehensive Health Profile — Men's

A Complete Blood Count (CBC) includes measurements for red blood cells, white blood cells, hemoglobin, hematocrit, and platelets. Red blood cells (RBCs), also known as erythrocytes, carry oxygen from your lungs to the tissues and organs in your body. Your red blood cell count measures the concentration of RBCs in your blood sample, while hemoglobin indicates the amount of this oxygen-carrying protein inside those RBCs. A hematocrit test measures how much of your blood is made up of red blood cells. A platelet count indicates the concentration of platelets, vital to blood clotting, your blood contains.

A CBC also offers information regarding the physical characteristics of red blood cells. The mean corpuscular volume (MCV) is a measurement used to describe the average size of red blood cells. The mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH) value represents the average amount of hemoglobin contained in each red blood cell, whereas the mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC) value represents the hemoglobin concentration within red blood cells. The red cell distribution width (RDW) indicates your red blood cells' size variation and similarity.

White blood cells (WBCs), also known as leukocytes, are a component of the immune system which are classified into the following types: lymphocytes, neutrophils, monocytes, eosinophils, and basophils. They each perform a unique function and work together in response to injury or illness by attacking unknown substances or organisms that enter the body.

The A1C test measure your average blood glucose levels over the past 3 months from the time of testing, whereas glucose measurements indicate your current blood glucose level at the time of testing.

A urinalysis also called a urine test, identifies abnormalities in the urine's appearance, content, and concentration. This analysis examines the color, clarity, pH, and density of your urine and the presence of glucose, bilirubin, ketones, blood, protein, nitrate, infection, white and red blood cells, skin cells, bacteria, and hyaline casts (microscopic clusters of urinary particles). A urinalysis can determine potential health problems before symptoms develop, including serious diseases like kidney disease, diabetes, or liver disease in their earliest stages.

Eating, drinking, or exercising before the test, certain medications, diet, dehydration, and other factors can affect the results of this test.

There are several reasons why PSA levels may be higher than normal:

• Age: As men get older, their PSA levels tend to rise.
• Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH): In some men, the prostate grows bigger and produces more PSA than usual due to its larger size
• Medications: Some medications, such as finasteride and some cholesterol-lowering medications can alter your PSA level. Be sure to tell your provider about any medications you are taking before your PSA test
• Prostate cancer: In a healthy prostate, PSA is secreted in small amounts into the bloodstream, but levels can increase as cancer develops
• Prostatitis: Prostatitis is a painful condition in which the prostate is inflamed, swollen, and tender. It is often caused by a bacterial infection, though sometimes the cause is unknown. In some cases, an elevated PSA level may increase because of irritation of the prostate
• Urinary tract infection: An infection in the urinary system can irritate the prostate and cause inflammation; this can cause the prostate to make more PSA

Any individual with a prostate gland is at risk of developing a prostate disorder. Symptoms include:

• Frequent urge to urinate
• Dribbling of urine
• Getting up many times during the night to urinate
• Blood in urine or semen
• Pain or burning during urination
• Painful ejaculation
• Frequent pain in the lower back, pelvic or rectal area
• Pain caused by touching the prostate
• Change in size, firmness, or texture of the prostate
• Lumps or hard areas spreading beyond the prostate

If you have any of these symptoms, you should consider consulting with a healthcare provider.

The American Cancer Society (ACS) encourages men to have a discussion with a healthcare provider about whether prostate cancer screening is appropriate for them.¹

Prostate cancer screening is not recommended by ACS for men who do not meet these criteria. The US Preventive Services Task Force² and Johns Hopkins Medicine³ recommend screening every 2 to 3 years. Speak with your primary care provider to better understand your own risk.

For those who choose to have prostate cancer screening, the ACS recommends the PSA blood test for individuals in the following risk categories:

• Men 50 years of age with an average risk of developing prostate cancer and no underlying health conditions that may reduce life expectancy
• Men 45 years of age with a high risk of developing prostate cancer, African American men, and those with an immediate family member who was diagnosed with prostate cancer before the age of 65
• Men 40 years of age with a higher risk of developing prostate cancer, such as individuals who have multiple immediate family members with prostate cancer who were diagnosed at an early age