Annual Exams No Men Should Miss
Think about your car. Every year you get it inspected, while keeping up on tune ups, oil changes and repairs throughout the year. This ensures it runs beautifully, well into old age.
Now, think of your body. Do you commit to the same level of maintenance?
Men are known to avoid the doctor’s office. Still, starting as early as age 20, men should check up on the basics: a physical exam that includes height, weight, and blood pressure, with a cholesterol test every five years. Depending on risk and family history, a doctor may recommend other tests (which is why it’s important to be aware of your family history and honest with your doctor).
There are certain exams and vaccinations that become more important as men age. Keep your body’s engine light from flickering on with these important exams.
In Your 20s
• Monthly testicular self-exams
• STD tests, including HIV
• Tetanus booster and possibly Tdap, Hepatitis A and B vaccines
In Your 30s
• Vision examination
• Exams to detect heart disease,if you have family history or other risk factors.
In Your 40s
• Diabetes screening every three years after age 45
In Your 50s
• Tetanus booster every 10 years
• An annual electrocardiogram
• Vision and hearing examinations
• Prostate cancer screenings (depending on your risks)
• First colonoscopy at age 50
• Screening for depression
In Your 60s
• Osteoporosis evaluation
• A pneumococcal vaccination is recommended at age 65
• Screening for dementia and Alzheimer’s