Image via Wikipedia
For many men a visit to the doctors office is only done when necessary, when something is not right; very rarely is it self initiated. It really makes no difference whether this is due to a lack of time on your part or perhaps it is no real motivation because no one should care more about your health than you. So, set aside all of your excuses, man-up and start following a health screening regimen.
You should have your blood pressure checked at least every 2 to 3 years throughout your life since high blood pressure is a huge risk factor when it comes to stroke, kidney damage and heart attack. You should also have a lipid panel test done about every 4 years to test your cholesterol. This test will show the amount of lipids (fat) that is in your blood; unwanted levels are a risk factor of both strokes and heart attacks.
By having a fasting blood sugar test every three years, or less, you will be able to tell fairly early if you have diabetes, it should be completed even more often if there is a family history. Other factors that determine if you should be tested include obesity, high cholesterol and high blood pressure.
You should have your eyes checked every year, especially if you are in the high risk group for glaucoma. Some of those risks include severe myopia, those with diabetes, those with a family history of the disease and those that are over 40 years old. If you have a family history of melanoma, have a serious sunburn or are subjected to frequent sun exposure you will want to get a full body exam for skin cancer at least every 4 to 5 years.
Men in their 50’s should be screened for rectal and colon cancer; although 50 is the recommended age those that are at higher risk should begin their testing earlier. This would include those with a family history, any kind of inflammatory bowel disease, ulcerative colitis and polyps. The same holds true for prostate cancer screening, it usually begins around 50 but you may want to start earlier as all of these have a better chance of treatment when they are caught early.
No one is going to force you to seek out any kind of screening or testing, it is up to you to take care of your health.
Related articles
- How Family History Affects Heart Health (everydayhealth.com)
- Getting the Right Diagnostic Tests (everydayhealth.com)
- Will the Right Tests Keep You From Having a Heart Attack? (everydayhealth.com)
- Diabetes Management: Tight Cholesterol, BP Control Does Little Good for Diabetics (diabetesdialectics.wordpress.com)
- Intermittent High Blood Pressure: Causes and Treatment Options (brighthub.com)
Trackbacks/Pingbacks