There are six recommended health check-ups that all men should consider having run in the interest of their own good health and long life. All six screening tests may not apply to all men. Four of these screening tests, however, do apply to all men at different ages.
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Cholesterol
Most men just don’t believe they have high cholesterol and don’t take the time to have it checked. You should have your cholesterol checked every 5 years starting at 35. However, if you smoke, have diabetes, or if heart disease runs in your family, you need to start testing at the early age of 20.
If you are overweight, you need to get that check-up no matter what your age.
Screening Tests for Your Blood Pressure
You should have your blood pressure checked at least every 2 years. You need to see your physician for this. The blood pressure machines at the corner drug store may need calibration and are not accurate.
High blood pressure does not have any symptoms and people don’t even know they have a problem until it is too late and a stroke cuts them off at the knees.
Colorectal Cancer Health Screening Tests
Regular colorectal cancer testing should begin at 50. There is more than one kind of test available. So, do not delay and just get it done if you have already turned 50.
Diabetes Screening Test
If you have high blood pressure or high cholesterol, your physician is going to test for diabetes. If you are overweight, your physician is probably going to run this screen at the same time as the cholesterol screening.
Prostate Cancer Screening
If you are considering having a prostate cancer screening test, there are two options: a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test and digital rectal examination (DRE). Talk to your doctor about the possible benefits and harms of prostate cancer screening.
Depression Screening
Many men were brought up to “bite the bullet” and keep quiet about any problems they are having. Generations of women have complained that their men just don’t share. Everyone goes through periods of depression occasionally. For most people those periods only last for a few days and it is easy to say the reason why you are depressed. There are certain “acceptable” reasons for depression: losing a job, illness or death of a loved-one, or work stress just to name a few.
However, if you’ve felt sad, or hopeless, or have little interest or pleasure in doing things talk to your doctor. If you just want to sleep all the time for a period of 2 weeks straight, you might be depressed. You might find that with just a little help you can get back to your normal happy self.
For all men out there, use these check-ups as screening tests for disease. Early detection is key and can help prevent further pain in the future.
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