Be Proactive: Health Is Wealth
Taking a proactive approach to physical health is important. Routine wellness exams and other specific health checks can serve as an initial warning for underlying conditions that need consistent attention. Catching conditions early on can prevent situations from deteriorating or requiring more drastic measures. While some physical screenings are essential for all genders, other tests are specifically designed to look for conditions optimizing men’s health. Here are the most important wellness checks men should have at various stages of life.
Prostate cancer
Prostate cancer is a form of cancer that is specific to men. However, most individuals won’t need to begin screenings until around 55 years of age. Some groups are at a higher risk for developing the condition, especially people with a family history of the disease and African Americans. Note that prostate cancer is not routinely checked anymore unless an individual has symptoms that imply more research is needed. However, the screening is usually performed annually or less often, depending on the results. Note that of the majority of preventative exams recommended for men, prostate cancer is the only gender-specific screening.
Exams for 20 and 30-somethings
Most exams men are urged to undergo within this age range are for general conditions that aren’t exclusive to one gender and are relatively routine. However, different tests may be recommended depending on a person’s age. For example, screenings like blood pressure and cholesterol are fairly routine and occur during typical wellness visits. If results are found to be higher than normal, a physician can work with individuals to create a treatment plan to improve overall health. Also, during this time range, routine STI and HIV/AIDs tests are encouraged for sexually active people. With STIs, screens are recommended for more common infections like chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis.
Exams for 40-somethings
During a man’s 40s, the previous routine checks during wellness exams will still continue. However, experts also recommend incorporating diabetes screenings. These tests usually begin around age 45 and will either screen for prediabetes or diabetes specifically. Yet, some people may begin such exams earlier if there is a family history of the condition, the individual is currently overweight or obese, or has other risk factors that increase the potential for developing diabetes.
Exams for 50-somethings
Colonoscopies are encouraged for people regardless of gender. The procedure checks for potential polyps, which could be precancerous. In men, colonoscopies aren’t encouraged until a person is 50 years old. Similarly, fecal occult blood tests may be ordered to check for blood in the stool. The exam is far less invasive than colonoscopies and can be an indicator of a variety of conditions beyond cancer. At this age range, osteoporosis screening may also begin to check for bone loss. People with a history of smoking, drinking, low body weight, or even fractures later in age are all at a higher risk of bone density loss.
Risk-specific testing
Sometimes, a person’s lifestyle habits increase the risk of developing a more serious condition later in life. For example, current and former heavy smokers are encouraged to undergo lung cancer screening. Likewise, any individual who has ever smoked is encouraged to have an abdominal aortic aneurysm test. The process is a one-time test that involves an ultrasound that checks the heart and aorta.
Protect health throughout the years
Taking a proactive stance toward physical health and wellness is important. While men may not historically prioritize wellness exams, maintaining a routine health checkup schedule is the best way to catch potential issues early.
