Must-Have Health Screenings for Men Celebrate the man in your life by supporting his health
8/27/2019
By: Timothy Crater, M.D., Internal Medicine
A man’s reluctance to visit the doctor is a longstanding and popular stereotype – and a regular topic of discussion among the women who care about them. Just like women, men should visit the doctor faithfully for an annual physical and be screened for certain diseases and conditions that are prevalent among men as they age. As with women, regular check-ups promote good health and longevity.
This Father’s Day, in conjunction with National Men’s Health Week, June 10-16, encourage the special men in your life to visit their doctor for a check-up or a routine health screening – or get a physical, yourself. National Men’s Health Week is intended to heighten the awareness of preventable health problems and encourage early detection and treatment of disease among men, as well as highlight the importance of men’s health, not as an individual matter, but a family issue that impacts everyone.
Many of the health issues that affect men are preventable, which makes these tests even more important. Recommended screenings for men include:
Blood pressure
Why: Keeping a close eye on a man’s blood pressure level can help with early detection of hypertension or pre-hypertension, early-stage high blood pressure. If left untreated, high blood pressure can increase the risk of heart attack, heart failure, stroke and kidney disease.
When: Men should have their blood pressure checked at least once every two years. Even men with normal blood pressure readings can develop high blood pressure in middle age and later in life.
Cholesterol
Why: According to the Centers for Disease Control’s National Center for Health Statistics, an estimated 106 million American adults have total blood cholesterol levels of 200 mg/dL and higher, and of these, 37.7 million have levels of 240 mg/dL or higher, which is considered high risk. Desirable or optimal cholesterol levels, according to the CDC, are less than 200 mg/dL for total cholesterol, LDL (“bad”) cholesterol, less than 100 mg/dL; HDL (“good”) cholesterol, 40 mg/dL or higher; and triglycerides, less than 150 mg/dL.
When: Men should have their cholesterol checked beginning at age 35 – or younger, if one of the following conditions is present: diabetes, high blood pressure, a genetic predisposition to heart disease, or if the patient smokes. The National Cholesterol Education Program recommends that all adults have their cholesterol levels checked at least every five years.
Sexually transmitted diseases
Why: Depending on lifestyle and sexual history, men should talk to their doctor to see whether they should be tested for certain sexually transmitted diseases (commonly known as STDs), such as gonorrhea, syphilis, chlamydia, human papilloma virus (HPV), Hepatitis B, HIV or other sexually transmitted infections. Most STDs can be diagnosed through routine blood or urine tests. Certain STDs, such as herpes, cannot be detected through a screening. Early treatment can cure many STDs, lessen their symptoms and/or make the disease less likely to spread, as well as help restore and maintain long-term health.
When: All men who are sexually active should be tested regularly for STDs, and their partners should, too. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has no set recommendations for the frequency of STD testing, unless an individual engages in high-risk sexual practices or has symptoms such as genital sores, fluid-filled blisters, ulcerations or warts, or unusual discharge. The CDC does encourage voluntary HIV testing, at least once, as a routine part of medical care for anyone between age 13 and 64. The CDC advises yearly HIV testing for high-risk patients, such as individuals who have had unprotected sex with more than one sexual partner since their last screening.
Diabetes
Why: More than 6 million people in the United States have diabetes and don’t know it. Symptoms of diabetes are so mild that the disease often goes undetected, or it is mistaken for some other ailment. Other health conditions, such as high blood pressure or high cholesterol, increase the risk of developing diabetes.
When: Men 45 years of age or older should consider getting a diabetes test, and individuals who have risk factors – overweight, a family history, high blood pressure, high cholesterol or cardiovascular disease – should talk to their doctor about beginning testing before age 45. A pre-diabetes test can help predict the risk for developing diabetes, and patients can make lifestyle adjustments to delay or prevent diabetes.
Men whose blood glucose levels are in the normal range should be checked every three years, according to the American Diabetes Association. Individuals with pre-diabetes, should be checked for type 2 diabetes every one to two years after initial diagnosis.
Prostate cancer
Why: Prostate cancer is one of the most common cancers in men. The disease is rare before age 50, and, when caught early, i.e., while symptoms are limited to the prostate, is curable. Age is considered the biggest risk factor for prostate cancer. More than 70 percent of all men are diagnosed at age 65 or older. The most common test is the digital rectal examination, an early, simple screening test in which the physician checks the prostate gland for any abnormalities that may indicate the beginning of cancer.
When: A prostate check is usually performed annually, as part of a man’s physical, beginning at age 50.
Testicular cancer
Why: Testicular cancer is rare and its cause is unknown; however, it is also the most common cancer among men ages 20 to 34. It is most often found among white males. Men who develop testicular cancer do not have any specific risk factors. Most men discover testicular cancer during a self-exam – or a physician finds it during an annual physical. Therefore, it’s very important to monitor any changes in size, shape or consistency of the testicles and talk with a physician.
When: Most doctors agree that examining a man's testicles should be part of a general physical exam. The American Cancer Society (ACS) recommends a testicular exam by a doctor as part of a routine cancer-related check-up. Most doctors think that early detection is an important factor in successful treatment and recommend that all men do monthly testicular self-exams after puberty.
Colorectal cancer
Why: If caught early, colorectal cancer is one of the most curable cancers. The exact cause of this cancer is unknown, but age is thought to play a part. Most colorectal cancers develop from small polyps in the lining of the intestine. The screening provides both diagnosis and treatment, since any polyps found are removed and analyzed as part of the exam.
When: All men should have a colorectal exam, which includes several tests to check the colon and rectum, beginning at age 50. Some men may need to begin testing earlier. If there is a family history of colorectal cancer involving a first degree relative, screening should begin ten years earlier than the age at which the relative was diagnosed. The frequency of repeat exams depends on individual risk level.
This Father’s Day, celebrate the men you love by encouraging them to be proactive about their health. For more information on any of these tests, contact your primary care physician.
About the Author: Dr. Timothy Crater is board-certified in internal medicine and on the medical staff of Tennova Healthcare – Harton. Contact him at (931) 455-7767.
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