Men, generally, avoid the need for check-ups and important health screening that could prevent them from serious health problems or sometimes can save their lives. Screenings are medical tests that check for diseases and help doctors to detect the diseases at the early stage for an easier treatment. Many people are afraid to get screened. They are scared to know if something is wrong with them. But one should be wise enough to go for these screenings.
Thus to tune-up your body, this time go with these important tests:
1. Health Screening Checklist for Men
a. Obesity
You should calculate your body mass index (BMI). Simply divided your weight by your height. Take that number and multiple it by 703. If your BMI is greater than 25 then you may be overweight. If your BMI is above 30, then you are surely obese. Being overweight or obese increases your risk for many diseases, including heart disease and diabetes. Your first step should be to lose weight.
b. High cholesterol
If you are around 35 and smoke or have diabetes, high blood pressure, or heart disease in your family, you should monitor your cholesterol more closely. As you are at higher risk of an increased level of lipid.
c. High blood pressure
The risk of high blood pressure begins to increase when men cross 45 years. Since high blood pressure is a major risk factor for heart attack, stroke, and kidney failure, it should be checked regularly. It is recommended that screening should be done every two years for persons with systolic blood pressure below 120 mHg and diastolic blood pressure below 80 mmHg and yearly for persons with systolic blood pressure from 120 to 139 mmHg or diastolic blood pressure from 80 to 89 mmHg.
d. Colon cancer
A colon cancer screening involves a colonoscopy. It’s quite painful test, but much better than undergoing chemotherapy and other treatments for advanced colon cancer if you don’t catch it early. The screening (internal exams that looks for signs of polyps or colon cancer) is recommended every 5 years for men of average risk for colon cancer, along with yearly stool tests for blood, starting at the age of 50. If you have a history of colon cancer or polyps in your family, you may need to be screened more frequently.
e. Diabetes
If you have high cholesterol or high blood pressure, you should also be regularly tested for diabetes. This test is a simple blood test.
f. Rectal Exam and PSA Test
By the age of 50, men should begin to get screened for prostate cancer. The screening includes a rectal exam and a blood test called PSA or the prostate-specific antigen test.
g. Eye Exam
Along with testing your vision and screening for glaucoma and age-related macular degeneration, eye exams can also reveal signs of diabetes and high blood pressure.
2. Other Examinations to Consider:
a. Single men should get screened for sexually transmitted diseases (STD). The sexually active man should undergo STD and HIV screenings every 6 months.
b. Testosterone level checked regularly to inhibit mood swings, and for better sexual performance, bone strength, and hair growth.
Health screening tests are designed to help men identify illnesses early, when action can be taken to prevent or minimize the disease .Talk to your doctor about which health screening tests apply to you and when and how often you should be tested. Be sure to set yourself up for success. Pamper yourself for each test that you do and make sure to keep good records of test results, dates and when you need the next test. Even if a man thinks he’s healthy, a yearly checkup can be very helpful.
