It’s been known that men are less likely to see a doctor for regular check-ups than women. But if you want to stay healthy and handle health issues before they get out of hand, you need to see your doctor regularly. Preventative health consults examinations and screening save lives.
You don’t have to wait until you get a health scare to go to the doctor’s office. All men need regular health checks because it’s the best way to identify early signs of fatal illnesses. Besides that, it’s also a way of looking after yourself. So here are essential screenings and checks for every man.
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Table of Contents
Cholesterol and Blood Pressure Check
Men who are twenty years and over should have their cholesterol and blood pressure checked every three or five years. High blood pressure is one of the leading causes of stroke in men. It can also be fatal if left untreated. High cholesterol leads to cardiovascular issues like heart attacks.
You can prevent all these health problems with basic blood work at your doctor’s office. You can easily check your blood pressure at your local pharmacy without an appointment. But if you are 50 years or older, these checks need to be done yearly. If you are more prone to heart disease, your doctor will recommend more frequent check-ups.
Everyone is different. That is why you need to consult your doctor before the screening. If you have a history of high blood pressure in your family, you may need constant monitoring. Some can go for five years without screening for cholesterol and blood pressure, while others can’t.
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Lung Screening
Cancer of the lung is the most preventable out of all cancers. People who smoke are the most prone to it. So if you are a smoker, you should get lung screenings every chance you get. Prevention is key, especially for men with a genetic predisposition to getting the disease.
Lung screening will do you good if you have also been exposed to second-hand smoking for a long time. It can be scary to think about such illnesses, but scheduling a screening appointment may be the best thing you ever did.
If you want to lower your risks of getting lung cancer, ditch the cigarettes or stay away from people who smoke. The screening is recommended for men over 55 years or if you have quit smoking in the past few years. The main benefit is reducing your chances of dying from the diseases. That is because if it’s detected early, you can fight your way through it.
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Eye Test
Annual eye exams can help you detect or avoid serious health issues like glaucoma. Also, many people discover health conditions like high blood pressure and diabetes through routine eye exams.
It’s recommended if there is a family history or if you have been wearing contact lenses or prescription glasses for a long time. Don’t put off your eye check-ups. Schedule one today and keep going after a year or so. Eyesight deteriorates with age, which is why men who are older than sixty years have to go for regular check-ups.
But there are ways you can protect your vision, like eating seafood with omega three and seeing an eye doctor frequently. Maintaining good eyesight starts with preventative eye tests as early as now.
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Prostate Cancer Screening
This cancer is one of the most common diseases men face today. Digital rectal exam or prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood level tastes are the best way to detect prostate cancer early. Most experts recommend the test every year, but you shouldn’t go beyond three years before checking in with your doctor. More aggressive prostate cancers can cause other health issues like erectile dysfunction. You can get treatments for erectile dysfunction to help manage the condition.
However, if you are 50 to 70 years old, the screening should be more regular. Ensure you see a doctor and plan your yearly check-ups. Any man that has a family history of the disease should begin screening early. Ask your doctor about the benefits and risks of using different testing methods before going for regular screening. So if you had never thought about this test, it’s time to give it a serious thought.
Getting the right screening tests is the best thing you can do for your health. Most men tend to neglect their health, but that doesn’t mean you should follow suit. Make your physical and mental health a priority and make changes to ensure you are leading a healthy lifestyle. You will gain a lot from a doctor’s appointment even if you don’t get any diseases from the screening.
