10 Health Tests That Are Important for Men at Every Age

What tests should a man see a doctor for? What ages should he be getting certain tests done? How often should some of these tests be repeated? These are important questions, and we've provided some of the answers here.

1) Blood Pressure

A man should have his blood pressure checked every two years. He should have his height, weight and body mass index (BMI) checked upon each visit while he's at it.

If his top (systolic) number is between 120 and 139, or his bottom (diastolic) number is 80 mm HG or more, though, he should have his blood pressure checked each year.

2) Cholesterol

If a man has risk factors of heart disease or diabetes, he should consider screening starting at 20 years of age.

Starting when he is 35 years of age, a man should have his cholesterol levels checked every five years.

3) Colon Cancer

If a man has a family history of polyps or colon cancer, screening is recommended before age 50. Other risk factors like inflammatory bowel disease are reason for screening.

Between 50 and 75 years of age, all men should be screened for colon cancer.

Some screening must be done but a man need not do all of them. If he has a sigmoidoscopy every five years, the doesn’t need a colonoscopy — unless test results are positive.

Stool tests could be done yearly if no other invasive test is done. If test results are positive a colonscopy is needed.

He should have a colonoscopy every 10 years, or more often if he is at risk for colon cancer. Some possible risk factors are ulcerative colitis, or a family history of colorectal cancer or of colorectal adenomas.

4) Dental

Dental exams and cleaning should be done once or twice a year.

5) Diabetes

Blood sugar should be tested for diabetes if a man's blood pressure is higher than 135/80 mm Hg.

If his BMI is 25 or higher, especially if he has other diabetes risk factors, he should be screened.

If he is at risk for diabetes, testing should begin at 20 years of age. If he already has diabetes, more frequent checking may be needed.

If he is 35 years of age or older, he should be screened for diabetes every three years.

6) Eyes

A man should go every 5 to 10 years for an eye exam if he is under the age of 40 and does not have risk factors for glaucoma.

Between 40 and 54 years of age, his eye exams should be performed every two to four years.

Between 55 and 64 year of age, he should have his eyes examined every one to three years. Vision issues or glaucoma risk factors may require exams more frequently.

7) Fasting Lipoprotein Profile

Starting at 20 years of age, a man should have a fasting lipoprotein profile done every four to six years. The blood test measures total cholesterol, as well as LDL (bad) cholesterol, HDL (good) cholesterol and triglycerides.

If he is at high risk for heart disease or for stroke, he should be tested more often.

8) Lung Cancer

The American Society of Clinical Oncology and other major medical groups now recommend lung cancer screening for smokers who are 55 to 74 years of age if they have smoked a pack a day for 30 years.

Screening with low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) is recommended once a year between 55 and 80 years of age for those who smoke, or who have quit in the last 15 years.

9) Osteoporosis Screening

Between 50 and 70 years of age, screening may be recommended if you are at risk. Some risk factors are heavy alcohol consumption, fractures after the age of 50, long-term steroid use, low body weight, smoking, or family history of osteoporosis.

10) Prostate Cancer

Screening for prostate cancer should begin at age 50. PSA blood test may be done each year.

A man who has no symptoms will not be routinely given a rectal exam to check his prostate.

Reviewed June 14, 2016
by Michele Blacksberg RN

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