FEBRUARY 2023 – It’s a good time of year to make sure you’re up to date on your health screenings.
Many conditions don’t have symptoms in early stages – like high blood pressure, diabetes, some cancers. Early screening helps prevent health problems later.
Recommended screenings for men:
- Blood pressure – once a year (more if you have diabetes, heart disease, kidney problems, are overweight, have a first-degree relative with high blood pressure, or are Black)
- Cholesterol – age 35+, every 5 years (more often if you have diabetes, heart disease, kidney problems)
- Colorectal cancer – age 45+ (younger if you have family history, or inflammatory bowel disease)
- Dental exam – 1-2 times a year
- Diabetes – age 35+, every 3 years (more if you have obesity, high blood pressure, prediabetes, history of heart disease)
- Eye exam – age 40+, every 2-4 years (then every 1-3 years starting at age 55)
- Immunizations – annual flu shot (all ages), shingles (age 50+), others
- Infectious disease – one-time tests for hepatitis C (age 18+) and HIV (age 15+)
- Lung cancer – once a year if you’re age 50+ and smoke 20+ packs a year now, or did and quit in the past 15 years
- Osteoporosis - age 50+ if you smoke, drink heavily, use(d) steroids, broke a bone after age 50
- Prostate cancer – age 55+ (ask your provider about risks and benefits of PSA testing)
- Skin exam – age 20+, once a year (earlier and/or more often if you have moles, family history, lots of sun exposure)
- Testicular exam – age 18+ at your annual physical (self-exam isn’t enough)
Men 65+ should also consider:
- Abdominal aortic aneurysm screening ultrasound (age 65-75 who have smoked)
- Hearing test -- if you have any hearing loss (ask your family and friends)
U.S. Preventive Services Task Force health screening recommendations are detailed by the National Institute of Health in the National Library of Medicine.