Preventive health care screenings are equally important for people of all genders. However, men are significantly less likely than women to get annual physicals and other preventive screenings.
At Primary & Alternative Medical Center in Silver Spring, Maryland, family practice physician Jean Welsh, MD, encourages men of all ages to prioritize preventive care.
In honor of Movember month, we recommend five health screenings that every man needs.
The Movember movement started to remind men from backgrounds that their physical and mental health is important. One of the best ways to prioritize your health is to attend all your recommended preventive physicals and health screenings.
Health screenings and exams enable us to detect conditions or potential problems early, when they’re still easy to treat or can even be prevented from developing.
They also help you maintain an ongoing awareness of your overall health, lifestyle, and a closer relationship with our team.
These are five of the key preventive tests we recommend for men, along with the recommended age to start.
Your risk of prostate cancer starts to increase in your 50s. Starting at age 50, we recommend that all men get screened.
Prostate cancer screening can be done by a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) or digital rectal test.
For a PSA test, you provide a blood sample to detect elevated levels of prostate-specific antigen.
A rectal exam involves your clinician feeling your prostate for abnormalities.
High blood pressure and cholesterol often have no symptoms, and not catching them early means you can develop heart disease or have an unexpected heart attack or stroke. All men should get their blood pressure checked at least once a year at an annual physical.
You should get a cholesterol screening blood test at least once every two years when you turn 35. You might need blood pressure and cholesterol screenings earlier or more frequently if you have certain chronic conditions or risk factors.
A simple blood sugar test quickly determines if you have elevated levels consistent with prediabetes or diabetes. All men need to start this screening annually at age 35.
Colorectal cancer is a slow-growing cancer that can be treated when caught early. However, the only way to detect this cancer is with a colonoscopy screening.
You should get your first colonoscopy at age 45 and continue with screenings until age 75. The good news is, you only need colonoscopies every 10 years after you get normal results.
Your mental health is just as important as your physical condition. Many men of all ages remain untreated for conditions like depression and anxiety.
At your annual physical, our team asks you general questions to evaluate your overall mental well-being. Depending on your responses, we might have you complete further depression or other mental health screenings.
To keep you as healthy as possible, our team prepares a personalized health screening schedule based on government recommendations, your overall health, and family history. Contact us to get started with comprehensive preventative treatment.
