WHEN IT COMES TO SEEKING MEDICAL HELP, men tend to have tunnel vision. They see doctors and no one else. Which leaves an essential supporting cast waiting in the wings—people who aren't M.D.'s or D.O.'s but who can still help prevent the big DOA. We're talking about everyone from pharmacists to physical therapists, dentists to optometrists. Heck, even massage therapists play a part. "All of these health professionals are critical players on your health-care team," says Ted Epperly, M.D., a
Men's Health family-medicine advisor. "Yes, they can fill cavities and prescribe contact lenses, but they're also important watchdogs for your overall health and for potentially saving your life." The catch: You have to know
how they can help in order to take full advantage of their skills. Ready to assemble a true medical A-Team? Read on. And remember, if one of these professionals does spot something, you should see a medical doctor—often a specialist—for a follow-up.
Health detective: Your dentist
Even if you brush and floss as if a hygienist were looking over your shoulder, your mouth may still hold a dirty secret: oral cancer. What's that you say? You never smoked or chewed tobacco? Doesn't matter. You may be at risk for a form of oral cancer caused by HPV, a virus transmitted through oral sex. So open wide for your dentist. "We look for any lesions on the back of your throat, inside your cheeks and gums, and under your tongue as part of our regular exam," says Kenneth Young, D.D.S., the
Men's Health dentistry advisor. You should also ask your dentist to check for these more subtle signs of trouble.
A Floppy Tongue
If you don't have a bed partner to kick you, you may never know that you're a hard-core snorer. That's risky because snorers are more likely to suffer from sleep apnea, a condition in which the airway is cut off by an obstruction. Fortunately, during a dental exam your head is tilted back, allowing your dentist to see if your tongue slips back or if your soft palate might collapse during sleep, says Dr. Young. Some dentists are trained to help manage sleep apnea, but most will refer you to a sleep specialist.
Weak jawbone
Dental x-rays can be a valuable window into the overall state of your skeleton. Specifically, studies have linked the bone-mineral density of a person's lower jaw to that of his spine and hips. "Because patients come to see us once or twice a year, we can compare x-rays and catch bone loss early," says Dr. Young. And before you dismiss osteoporosis as an old-lady problem, consider this: As many as one in five men will develop the condition, according to a 2008 Mayo Clinic review. If caught early, bone loss can be stopped and even reversed with strength training and a diet rich in calcium and vitamin D, says Dr. Young.
Bad teeth
High blood sugar doesn't cause cavities, but it can still screw up your teeth—and worse, lead to diabetes. In a 2011 study, Columbia University scientists were able to correctly diagnose prediabetes and diabetes in 73 percent of people just by looking for a combination of gum trouble and four or more missing teeth. The reason: High blood sugar is high-octane fuel for oral bacteria. If your dentist tells you that your oral health is this bad, consider seeing your primary-care doctor for a hemoglobin A1c test. The Columbia researchers found that adding this blood-sugar test boosted identification of prediabetes and diabetes to 93 percent.
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