The Essential Health Exams Every Man Needs
The exams, screenings, and health visits men need at every stage of life.
Men in the U.S., regardless of income or ethnicity, tend to avoid going to see a doctor for preventive care, research shows. Although conditions such as heart disease, some cancers, and diabetes are more common in men, many put off appointments for essential exams because they are worried about feeling uncomfortable or getting bad news. Unfortunately, this often results in men not seeking medical care until a disease or health issue has advanced.
“There is no demographic that utilizes healthcare resources less than men between the ages of 18 and 45, followed closely by men ages 45 to 64,” says Dr. Joseph Alukal, a urologist at NewYork-Presbyterian The One and Columbia. “Even if you are young and feel healthy, it’s important to have a relationship with a primary care doctor. You want to have a physician you trust and can rely on for help when or if you need it. Our goal is to make it easier to access high-quality care and to help men become healthy and keep them healthy.”
Health Matters spoke with Dr. Alukal about what screenings and doctor’s visits men should have during each decade of their lives to stay healthy.
Checklist for Men in Their 20s and 30s
- Primary care visit: Once a year. For young men, an appointment with a primary care doctor will include checking blood pressure, weight, and cardiac risk factors and a urine test to check for kidney disorders, liver problems, and diabetes. The doctor may also talk about testis cancer screening and self-examination for masses of the testis. Lastly, a family history and a social history is important to look at risk factors for future health issues like heart disease or cancer. “Check in with a doctor you trust and find out how to get screened or tested as soon as possible if needed,” says Dr. Alukal
- Blood test screening: Once a year. “The blood work that’s being done includes things like measurements of white and red blood cells, blood chemistry, blood sugar, and cholesterol,” says Dr. Alukal.
Expert’s Take: “All the tests at the primary care doctor, when put together, become a really good screening platform for things like diabetes, which causes so many other health problems; blood cancers like leukemia or lymphoma; and kidney failure, which can happen in a patient who has uncontrolled blood pressure,” says Dr. Alukal.
Checklist for Men in Their 40s and 50s
- Primary care visit: At least once a year or as often as needed.
- Routine blood test screening: At least once a year or as often as needed.
- Colonoscopy: With more young people being diagnosed and dying of colon cancer in recent years, the American Cancer Society recommends starting screening at age 45 — or earlier if you have a family history of colon cancer. For those without a history of colon cancer, it’s generally recommended to get a colonoscopy every 10 years after the initial screening.
- PSA (prostate-specific antigen) blood test: Once a year from age 50 to 69, or earlier if you have a family history of prostate cancer or other high-risk factors. Prostate cancer behaves differently than, say, colon cancer, so it’s important to speak with a urologist to determine when to start screening. You have the discussion about the PSA test, its risks and benefits, and whether you need to get one. Risks of PSA screening include anxiety relating to abnormal test results and the need for invasive procedures like prostate biopsy that can be associated with risks and might not be necessary.
- Skin cancer screening: Once a year. More frequently if there is a family history of skin cancer or a history of overexposure to the sun.
- Cardiology visit: At least once a year or as needed, especially if you have a family history of heart disease.
Expert’s Take: “The strong recommendation from the American Urological Association is that men with average risk for prostate cancer start regular screenings at age 50,” says Dr. Alukal. “But I always encourage men, once they’re in their 40s, to speak with their doctor and share their family history of prostate cancer.”
Checklist for Men in Their 60s and Older
- Primary care visit: At least once a year or as often as needed.
- Routine blood test screening: At least once a year or as often as needed.
- Colonoscopy: Varies for each individual and depends on family history of colon cancer and the colonoscopy results. For most people who are at average risk, once every 10 years after turning 45.
- PSA blood test: Every two to four years until age 69, according to the American Urological Association.
- Skin cancer screening: Once a year. More frequently if there is a family history of skin cancer or a history of overexposure to the sun.
- Cardiologist visit: At least once a year or as needed, especially if you have a family history of heart disease.
Expert’s Take: “I try to get patients in this age range to think of these visits as yearly tune-ups,” adds Dr. Alukal. “It’s like taking your car in for an oil change. What we’re trying to do is head off any problems before they happen."
NewYork-Presbyterian’s Commitment to Men’s Health
The NewYork-Presbyterian men’s health programs were established to offer men comprehensive and multispecialty care in a convenient fashion and at appropriate stages in their lives. The programs provide coordinated men’s health care across specialties — including cardiology, urology, internal medicine, and more — at three dedicated centers designed to meet the unique health needs of men: Men’s Health at NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia University Irving Medical Center, the Iris Cantor Men’s Health Center at NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center, and the Men’s Health Center of Excellence at NewYork-Presbyterian The One.
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