b'andBloodInstitute,laboratorybloodtestshelp40. Many insurance plans look at various factors for doctors check the function of your organs (such as thepaying for the PSA. Check with your doctor. Doctors kidneys, liver, thyroid, and heart) and show how welloften perform Digital Rectal Exams (DREs) also to treatments are working for you. check the prostate. PSAs are often available for free at local urology offices during the month of September Anotherimportantbloodtesttoaskforisthe(Prostate Cancer Awareness Month) and for free or lipoprotein panel, which is a blood test that measuresreduced costs at local FQHCs. theamountofcholesterolandtriglyceridesinyour blood. This test measures your risk of coronary artery#5Keep your brain active disease. DuringthesedaysofCOVID,manypeopleare Manyhospitalshostdiscountlabtestingannuallystayingindoorsandspendingmoretimealone.It withinthecommunity.Yourdoctorcanalsoorderisimportantduringtheseperiodsofisolationthat blood tests for you and will receive the results. Labwe keep our brain active. Now is a good time to try results can take anywhere from a few minutes up toanewhobbythatinspiresyou.Trygardening,art, a few weeks. Its important that you speak with yourcooking,bakingorevenlearninganewlanguage doctor and together discuss your blood test results. (there are numerous apps like Duolingo and Babbel). Join a virtual book club or start writing in a journal. Crosswords and Word Search puzzles are also good #6Get your mammogram orfor maintaining your brain health.prostate checkedLets face it, mammograms and prostate exams areAccordingto TheNationalInstituteonAging,the both really uncomfortable for lots of reasons. Yet,brain often looks for patterns to maintain normalcy. those few minutes of discomfort can save our lives.Trytocreateadailyscheduleandstructure. Things Both men and women can get breast cancer (out ofyou can do include waking up and going to bed at a the 100 people diagnosed with breast cancer, one is asimilar time each day and/or maintaining a meal and man). Traditionally,activity schedule. Create an environment that sets you mammograms areup for mental stability and success.focused on female breast cancer#4Eat at least 3-4 servings of diagnosis. Prostatefruits and vegetables every daycancer is a male onlyIs your plate colorful? Maintaining a healthy diet is cancer since only menvital to having a healthy weight and lowers the risks have the prostateof various gland.diseases and Most healthdisorders. insurance plans areAccording required to cover a mammogram screen for womento US beginning at age 40. Uninsured women can get aDepartment mammogram at no cost through the Best Chanceof program at their local health department and/ or localAgriculture, federally qualified health centers (FQHC).fruits and vegetables can Prostatecanceristhemostcommondiagnosedbe purchased cancerinmen.ThePSAtestisabloodtestforand eaten in prostatecancerscreening.AfricanAmericanmenmany forms. are encouraged to start getting the PSA test at ageContinued on page 30IMARA19'