June is national Men’s health month
Chances are you get your car tuned regularly, never skip an oil change, and have a weekly date with the car wash. But are you taking such good care of yourself?
“Dads are often so focused on their kids they forget to take care of themselves,” says Dr. Gregory Moran of Carrollton-based Family Medicine Associates of Texas. “Our busy lives and work schedules often prevent us from seeking routine preventive care, but it is the key to reducing the risk of illness and disease. Unfortunately, many diseases are far advanced by the time you have symptoms.”
See your doctor to determine which tests you should have and how often to have them, but in general, the medical exams suggested below will help keep you a finely tuned machine.
In Your 30s
- Annual physical exam by your primary care physician, including blood pressure.
- Screening for testicular cancer, including monthly self exams.
- Cholesterol testing every five years.
- Depending on your individual circumstances, your doctor may want to do an electrocardiogram to check for heart disease and blood tests to screen for diabetes, thyroid disease, liver problems and anemia.
- Depending on your risk factors, your doctor may also recommend screening for skin cancer, oral cancer, sexually transmitted diseases, and alcohol abuse.
- Vision examination.
- Screening for coronary heart disease in individuals with strong family history and/or risk factors.
In Your 40s
All of the above, plus:
- Screening for prostate cancer.
- Diabetes screening every three years over the age of 45.
In Your 50s
All of the above, plus:
- Annual screening for Type 2 Diabetes.
- Screening for lipid disorders.
- Hearing exam.
- Screening for depression.
- Screening for colon cancer with fecal occult blood testing, sigmoidoscopy or colonoscopy at age 50.
- Annual electrocardiogram.
- Depending on risk factors, your doctor may also recommend screening for lung cancer.
In Your 60s
All of the above, plus:
- Discuss with your physician screening for coronary heart disease, abdominal aortic aneurysm and carotid artery ultrasound screening.
- Screening for osteoporosis.
- Continue colorectal screening based on previous studies and results.
- Screening for dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.