It’s easy to let routine screenings slip by, but as you get older, checkups are increasingly important — particularly for men who may be more hesitant to see a physician.

Stay Healthy Between Screenings

In addition to regular health screenings, Dr. Thomas stresses the importance of men maintaining good heart health. “It’s important to monitor blood pressure and weight, especially while in your 20s and 30s,” says Dr. Thomas. Poor habits developed during adolescence can start to affect your health during this time, leading to weight gain, blood pressure issues, sleep issues and other preventable medical conditions.

For this reason, he encourages adopting healthy habits early. Men of any age can follow these additional tips to increase the likelihood of living a long and healthy life:

• Aim for a balanced diet that includes the five food groups each day. Eating more nutrient-dense foods will make you feel full faster and thereby less likely to choose unhealthy food options.
• Drink at least 64 ounces of water per day.
• Get at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise per week, which comes out to 30 minutes a day, five days a week. Incorporate weight training on at least two of those days.
• Aim for at least seven hours of sleep per night.
• Stay up to date with vaccinations, including the flu shot each fall.
• Avoid the use of tobacco products. If you are a current user, talk with your doctor about options for quitting.  
• Avoid alcohol or drink in moderation if you choose to drink.
• When you’re outdoors, always wear a hat and use sunscreen to protect yourself from skin cancer.

“Adopting a healthy lifestyle is the most effective way to prevent illness,” says Dr. Thomas. “Making smart lifestyle choices now with proper diet and exercise habits is the best way to stay healthy in the future and stay off of medications for as long as possible.”

Consult this infographic to see what you or the men in your life can expect during a checkup. Discuss family medical history, including any prostate and colorectal cancer, with your physician to see if additional or early screening is appropriate.  

This is a general guide, and your screening needs may vary based on lifestyle, family medical history and other factors. Talk with your physician about what screenings are appropriate at each stage of life.

Routine Checkups for Men

You wouldn’t skip your oil change, so why is your body any different? Health screenings are a vital part of living well, and they allow physicians to detect conditions and diseases in the early stages.

Your body is like an engine — here are some system checks you can expect at your checkup:

• Physical exam
• Weight and body mass index (BMI) check
• Blood pressure check
• Vaccination status check
• Routine labs
• Mental health screening for anxiety and depression
• Sexually transmitted infection (STI) screening, if you are sexually active and at risk of infection
• Substance use screening
• Cancer screening

 20s to 30s

• Eye exam: Start and continue every year.
• Dental exam: Continue every six to 12 months.
• Cholesterol screening: Start and continue at least every five years. If you have other risk factors or a family history of early heart disease, your physician may recommend more frequent testing.
• Type 2 diabetes screening: Start and continue at least every three years.

40s

• Colorectal cancer screening: Start at age 45 with a screening colonoscopy and continue every 10 years unless your physician recommends otherwise.
• Prostate cancer screening: Start before age 50 with a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test if you have risk factors such as family history of early prostate cancer or if you are Black.

50s

• Lung cancer screening: Start at age 50 with a CT scan if you:
• Have a smoking history of at least 20 pack-years
• To determine your pack-years, multiply the number of packs per day by the number of years smoked.
• Currently smoke or quit within the past 15 years 
• Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) screening: Start screening at the following ages, based on your risk factors:
• Age 50 or older if you have a family history of AAA and a smoking history
• Age 55 if you have a family history of AAA
• Age 65 if you have a smoking history

60s

• Cognitive function discussion: Talk about any changes in mood, memory or thinking with your physician.

70s+

• Bone density screening: Start at age 70 with a DEXA scan (bone density test) if you have risk factors for fractures.

Sources:
https://dph.illinois.gov/topics-services/life-stages-populations/mens-health/screening-information.html
https://www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/uspstf/recommendation/screening-for-prediabetes-and-type-2-diabetes
https://www.cdc.gov/sti/testing/index.html
https://www.bonehealthandosteoporosis.org/patients/diagnosis-information/bone-density-examtesting/
https://www.aoa.org/healthy-eyes/caring-for-your-eyes/eye-exams
https://northwesternmedicine.nm.org/preventive-cardiovascular-care/
https://www.nm.org/conditions-and-care-areas/cancer-care/lung-cancer-care/lung-cancer-screening-program/who-should-consider-a-lung-cancer-screening
https://www.mouthhealthy.org/dental-care/questions-about-going-to-the-dentist