HJAR May/Jun 2022

HEALTHCARE JOURNAL OF ARKANSAS I  MAY / JUN 2022 49 Gail Reede Jones, MD Arkansas Urology When a urologist sees a patient who is ex- periencing erectile dysfunction (ED), their priority should be to get to the root of the problem — what’s causing the symptoms of erectile dysfunction in the first place — in- stead of simply trying to treat the symp- toms. Erectile dysfunction can be caused by vascular disease, low testosterone, dia- betes, depression, anxiety, sleep disorders, certain medications, high blood pressure, and more. A patient may visit his urologist due to concerns over ED without realizing that he’s diabetic, and that’s what’s causing the symptoms of ED in the first place. While a manmay initially schedule an appointment with a urologist for treatment, it’ll take more medical experts than just the urologist to holistically treat the patient. Another example is testosterone (T) de- ficiency. Low T can cause hair loss, depres- sion, fatigue, weight gain, sexual problems, and more. Some causes of testosterone de- ficiency include aging, obesity, certain ge- netic disorders, mumps, and cancer treat- ment. Primary care physicians, psychiatrists, and specialists can work together as a team to treat the patient’s underlying condition when possible and help alleviate associat- ed symptoms. Physical health and mental health go hand-in-hand, and this should never be overlooked. Men’s Health Clinics that focus on men’s health in particular should consider offering general screenings to help detect a variety of condi- tions that commonly affect men. Since it’s no secret that many men avoid going to the doctor as much as possible, providing ad- ditional screenings when a man does finally schedule an appointment can be life-saving. A clinic screening men for not only pros- tate cancer but energy levels, sleep disorders, hormone levels, liver function, electrolytes, and more can help specialists detect un- derlying problems, even if those particular specialists can’t treat some of the problems they detect alone. This is important because certain conditions, such as sleep apnea, are linked to an increased risk of heart disease, stroke, and other serious problems. Many menmay not even have sleep apnea on their radar when they visit your clinic. Findings can be communicated to other physicians, and your team can work together as a whole to develop the best treatment plan for a pa- tient’s unique needs. Integration of care applies tomen’s health in several ways, and it’s easy to see why spe- cialists of all backgrounds and practices should come together and have a hand in treating patients not only within their spe- cialties, but in general. Openly collaborating and working with other doctors and medical professionals can improve patient outcomes, increase quality of life, and, most impor- tantly, save lives. n Gail Reede Jones, MD, joined Arkansas Urology in 1996 after working in private practice in Little Rock. She received a bachelor’s degree fromHunter College, City University of NewYork.Jones earned a medical degree fromMeharryMedical College and completed a urological surgery residency at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. Motivating men to stay up to date on all of their screenings, whether you’re a primary care physician or a specialist, can help men live longer and healthier lives in the long run. Some men who undergo treatment for prostate cancer are at a higher risk of having a heart attack or stroke. Sometimes, prostate cancer has also spread to other parts of the body by the time it’s diagnosed.This is exactly why a urologist should work with not only the patient’s PCP, but with other specialists such as cardiologists. Men with certain un- derlying conditions may be at a higher risk of complications caused by prostate cancer and prostate cancer treatment, which is why all of the physicians a patient comes into con- tact with should collaborate and keep one another up to date to develop and change the overall treatment plan as needed. Prostate cancer patients can also experi- ence a variety of mental health conditions that require treatment. Some patients expe- rience a decrease in quality of life and may develop depression, anxiety, or other mental health disorders whether they’re actively re- ceiving treatment for prostate cancer or not. In this scenario, working with mental health professionals is crucial for other doctors involved in the patient’s life. The possible side effects of certain medications and the types of medical treatment that a patient is receiving or considering should be openly discussed. Other Conditions Sometimes, even mild symptoms can be red flags signaling underlying problems.