June is National Men’s Health Month
Chances are you regularly tune your car, never skip an oil change, and have a weekly appointment at the car wash. But are you taking equal care of yourself?
“Fathers often prioritize their children’s needs and neglect their own health,” states Dr. Gregory Moran from Family Medicine Associates of Texas in Carrollton. “Our hectic lives and work commitments can hinder us from seeking routine preventive care, but this is essential to minimize the risk of illness and disease. Regrettably, many diseases have progressed significantly by the time symptoms appear.”
Consult your doctor to identify the appropriate tests for you and the frequency of those tests. Generally, the medical examinations outlined below will help maintain your health.
In Your 30s
- Annual physical exam by your primary care physician, which includes checking blood pressure.
- Screening for testicular cancer, including monthly self-exams.
- Cholesterol testing every five years.
- Based on your personal circumstances, your doctor may recommend an electrocardiogram to check for heart disease and blood tests to screen for diabetes, thyroid problems, liver issues, and anemia.
- Depending on your risk factors, screenings for skin cancer, oral cancer, sexually transmitted infections, and alcohol dependence may also be advised.
- Vision examination.
- Screening for coronary heart disease if you have a strong family history and/or other risk factors.
In Your 40s
All of the above, plus:
- Screening for prostate cancer.
- Diabetes screening every three years after age 45.
In Your 50s
All of the above, plus:
- Annual screening for Type 2 diabetes.
- Screening for lipid disorders.
- Hearing examination.
- Screening for depression.
- Screening for colon cancer using fecal occult blood testing, sigmoidoscopy, or colonoscopy starting at age 50.
- Annual electrocardiogram.
- Based on your risk factors, your doctor may suggest screening for lung cancer.
In Your 60s
All of the above, plus:
- Discuss with your physician the possibility of screening for coronary heart disease, abdominal aortic aneurysm, and carotid artery ultrasound screening.
- Screening for osteoporosis.
- Continue colorectal screening according to past study results.
- Screening for dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.
