(ORLANDO, Florida) – Orlando Health urologists Dr. Jamin Brahmbhatt and Dr. Sijo Parekattil are hitting the road for the fourth annual Drive for Men’s Health with an important message for men: Talk to your family members about your family health history. Issues such as prostate cancer, infertility and low testosterone are often hereditary, and knowing your risks can help with early detection.
“Fathers and grandfathers need to start an open dialogue with their children so they are aware of their health risks, and so they know they can openly talk about things that might make them uncomfortable otherwise,” said Dr. Brahmbhatt. “They might not understand what the benefits are when they’re young, but I bet you when they get older, they’ll appreciate that you had that conversation with them at an early age.”
A new national survey by Orlando Health found that four out of five men have never talked to a family member about sexual health. Men also lagged far behind women under the age of 35, who are about 90 percent more likely to talk to relatives, not just about sexual health, but also other conditions with genetic links such as cancer and mental illness. Learning about family health history at a younger age is important because 18-35 is when men are likely to be most sexually active and also most likely to start a family. Knowing your risks can help men notice any developing symptoms and start medical treatment as soon as possible.
“When it comes to health issues, guys tend to think, ‘I’ll just ignore it, and it’ll go away, or it’ll get better,’” said Dr. Parekattil. “But that can lead to serious health consequences. For example, with testicular cancer, the earlier it’s caught, the less of a chance it has to spread elsewhere in the body. Seeing your doctor and taking preventative measures can save your life.”
Brahmbhatt and Parekattil will drive their signature Drive for Men’s Health Tesla more than 3,000 miles across the country from June 2-10. Starting in Orlando, they’ll drive to New Orleans, then Houston, then take a detour to the coast to visit Los Angeles, and finally end their journey in Salt Lake City. “Once they see the car and get excited at these events: Boom! We hit them with our message,” said Dr. Brahmbhatt. “And the message is improve your health, go see your doctor and engage your family in your healthcare.”
