Is it About Time For Your Annual Tuneup?

Written by Bakersfield Magazine

Men. Guys. Bros. Dudes. However you label them—it’s a well-known fact that most of ‘em aren’t following doctors’ orders. Beer. Pizza. Football (on-screen not on-field). These all have a tendency to impact a man’s health. So if you’re adamant on having that extra pint, the least you can do is keep up on those doctor’s visits and get regular screenings to ward off these common dude diagnoses.

According to the Mayo Clinic, the biggest threats to men’s health are mostly preventable.

So use this guide and talk with your doctor to find out which tests are right for you as you coast through your 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s, and what ones are vital after you hit 60. Of course, a routine physical examination is recommended, even if you don’t qualify as “high-risk” for heart disease, stroke, or cancer.

20s —

You’re still young...in your prime. But there are preventative tests you should be taking to ensure you stay in great shape well into old age. Many of these tests should be continuously performed as you age, so just because your blood pressure is okay when you’re 27, doesn’t mean you can slack off!

TESTICULAR SCREENING. Testicular cancer is most common among white men between the ages of 20 and 34. Regular self-screenings should be performed; any changes in normal appearance or feel warrant a professional test.

STD SCREENING. One in two Americans will have contracted a sexually transmitted disease by age 25. Get tested every six months if you’re sexually active.

CHOLESTEROL TEST. If you have diabetes, high blood pressure, you smoke, or if heart disease runs in your family, you should have your cholesterol tested regularly throughout your 20s.

HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE. Have your blood pressure checked every 2 years. High blood pressure is 140/90 or higher. Nearly one in three Americans has high blood pressure, a major risk factor for heart attack, stroke, and kidney failure. Get tested more frequently if yours is already high.

30s —

OK, so you notice you have to hit the treadmill more often to keep those extra lbs off, but other things are changing in your body. Continue your regular checkups but talk to your doctor about these additional tests.

SKIN CANCER SCREENING. An easy way to detect skin cancer in its early stages and also learn about prevention.

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.

OBESITY. Have your body mass index (BMI) calculated to screen for obesity (a measure of body fat based on height and weight).

40s —

Pay more attention to your body. Generally speaking, when you hit your 40s, the tests get less fun and more invasive.

DIGITAL RECTAL EXAMINATION (DRE). The most direct way for a physician to screen for prostate and colorectal cancer.

TESTOSTERONE LEVEL. As many as 5 million American men have low testosterone levels, which can inhibit mood, sexual performance, bone strength, and hair growth.

MONITOR YOUR BLOOD PRESSURE AND CHOLESTEROL.

50s —

Once you hit 50, you definitely want to forge a closer relationship with your M.D. Keep up with regular exams for your eyes, cholesterol, blood pressure, and even your joints and muscles. But some more specific ones include:

COLON OR COLORECTAL CANCER TEST. Screening sigmoidoscopies are recommended every five years for men of average risk for colon cancer, along with yearly stool tests for blood, starting at age 50.

PROSTATE-SPECIFIC ANTIGEN (PSA) TEST. The major risk factor for prostate cancer: age! seventy percent of cases occur in men 65 and older. Family history and race (African-Americans have the highest risk factor) also contribute. Men over 50 should have yearly screenings.

60s —

By now, you’re a well-oiled machine. If you’ve been keeping up with your yearly medical tests, good for you. However, things happen fast when you hit retirement age, so be sure to visit the doctor if you notice any irregularities in your system.

ABDOMINAL AORTIC ANEURYSM TEST. If you are between the ages of 65 and 75 and have ever smoked, you need to be screened once for abdominal aortic aneurysm, which is an abnormally large or swollen blood vessel in your abdomen.

So to keep your body driving smoothly, make sure you take it in for its scheduled maintenance. Nobody wants to see that check engine light come on prematurely! And the longer you wait to take it in, the worse the problem gets. Buddy...dude...bro... if you give as much attention to your health as you do your car, you’ll have to reset the odometer before you have to visit the junk yard.

Article appeared in our 26-2 Issue - June 2009

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