\n<\/p>\n
A balanced diet. Regular exercise. Rest. Whether you\u2019re a man in your 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s or older, these are all key parts of a healthy lifestyle. But in addition to what you do to take care of yourself on a daily basis, there\u2019s another important practice that helps you look after your health: staying up to date on your\u00a0preventive care<\/a>.<\/p>\n Routine checkups, screenings and other forms of preventive care provide snapshots of your current health and give doctors opportunities to catch health concerns early, when they\u2019re easier to treat. Plus,\u00a0preventive care is often completely covered by insurance<\/a>.<\/p>\n In most cases, all it takes is a yearly visit with your doctor to get the recommended preventive care. However, the screenings you need change as you get older. Studies have shown that the risk of developing certain conditions increases at certain ages, meaning that you may need additional screenings as you get older to stay on top of your health. Learn which preventive screenings are needed regularly, which ones are needed at specific times, and how risk factors and medical history impact preventive care recommendations.<\/p>\n Screenings in your 20s<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0Screenings in your 30s<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0Screenings in your 40s<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0Screenings in your 50s<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0Screenings at age 65 and beyond<\/a><\/p>\n Specific screenings become more important as we age, but checkups are the foundation for the rest of your preventive care. Men of all ages can benefit from scheduling regular appointments for:<\/p>\n Annual physical exams are important for checking on your overall health. These appointments are opportunities to talk with your doctor about any questions or concerns you have about your health, stay up-to-date on immunizations and get recommendations for improving your health. During your yearly physical, your doctor will check your blood pressure and any lab work that may be due.<\/p>\n Don\u2019t forget about taking care of your teeth and gums. Many oral health conditions can contribute to conditions like diabetes, heart disease and high blood pressure if they\u2019re left untreated. A\u00a0dental checkup<\/a>\u00a0is an opportunity to get a deeper cleaning on your teeth than you can do at home, treat issues like tooth decay and gingivitis early, and get preventive care like fluoride treatments. Dental exams should generally be scheduled every 6-12 months, but your dentist will work with you to set a personalized schedule.<\/p>\n We only get one pair of eyes, so it\u2019s important to take care of them. Eye exams assess the health of each part of your eyes, as well as your eye muscles, depth perception, ability to see color, peripheral vision and how your pupils respond to light. If you wear glasses or contacts, your eye doctor will also check to see if you need an updated prescription to make sure you can see as clearly as possible. The American Optometric Association recommends getting an eye exam at least once every two years for adults who aren\u2019t at risk of eye issues, and annually for those who are.<\/p>\n If you\u2019re sexually active, one of the most important things you can do to protect yourself and your partners is getting regular\u00a0screenings for sexually transmitted infections<\/a> (STIs). If you have symptoms, you should get tested right away, but STIs often don\u2019t have symptoms, which is why screenings are so important.<\/p>\n It\u2019s recommended that all adults get a one-time screening for hepatitis C and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), but additional or repeated screenings may be recommended depending on your medical history and lifestyle.<\/p>\n There are specific tests for each STI, which include blood tests, urine tests and swabs of your mouth, throat or genital area. So, unless you\u2019re experiencing specific symptoms like warts, sores, rashes or discharge, it\u2019s common to have multiple STI tests at the same time.<\/p>\n You should always get tested for STIs and STDs before becoming sexually active with a new partner \u2013 and your partner should get tested, too. Your doctor may recommend regular testing based on certain risk factors, such as having had an STI before, having a partner with an STI, or sharing needles for drug use.<\/p>\n Diabetes<\/a>\u00a0impacts the body\u2019s ability to process sugar, causing sugar to build up in the blood. This has been linked to a range of health issues, including heart and kidney conditions, stroke and vision loss. The majority of diabetes cases can either be prevented or managed with lifestyle changes and medication, but it often takes time for symptoms to appear. Preventive screenings for diabetes are generally recommended starting around age 30.<\/p>\n A doctor may use one or more of the following blood tests to screen for diabetes:<\/p>\n If you don\u2019t have any risk factors for diabetes, screenings are recommended every three years. Screenings may be recommended earlier and more frequently if you:<\/p>\n Cholesterol is a waxy substance found in blood. The body uses it for digestion, building cells and making hormones, but having too much of it can cause plaque to build up in your veins and make it harder for blood to flow. This can increase your risk of heart disease, heart attack and stroke.<\/p>\n High cholesterol doesn\u2019t cause noticeable symptoms, so screenings are the only way to detect it. All healthy adults should have their cholesterol checked periodically.<\/p>\n A lipid profile, also known as a lipid panel or complete cholesterol test, measures four types of fat:<\/p>\n If you have normal cholesterol levels, testing is recommended every five years until age 45, then every 1-2 years until age 65, then annually. A doctor may recommend more frequent tests if you:<\/p>\n Colorectal cancers, which form in the large intestine and rectum, are the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States. When they\u2019re found and treated at an early stage, the American Cancer Society estimates that the five-year relative survival rate is around 90%. However, these early stages often have no symptoms, which makes screenings especially important.\u00a0Colorectal cancer screenings<\/a>\u00a0are generally recommended starting at age 45. If you have a family member who has had colorectal cancer, screenings are often recommended starting 10 years before the age that they were diagnosed.<\/p>\n There are two main ways to test for colorectal cancer, and they\u2019re done at different frequencies. Examination-based tests like\u00a0colonoscopies<\/a>, in which a doctor looks for swelling or polyps (small abnormal growths) in the lining of the colon, are recommended around every 10 years. Sample-based tests, like\u00a0fecal immunochemical tests<\/a> (FITs), are another option for colorectal cancer screening. With these tests, you send a stool sample to a lab for analysis. They\u2019re typically done each year. If your FIT test detects signs of colorectal cancer, your doctor will likely follow up with a colonoscopy.<\/p>\n The exact frequency of colorectal cancer screenings depends on the type of test you choose, as well as your risk factors. More frequent screenings may be recommended if you:<\/p>\n Lung cancer is the third-most common cancer and the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States. Like other cancers, it can be treated more effectively the earlier it\u2019s found. But unlike some other cancers, screening generally isn\u2019t recommended unless you\u2019re at a higher risk of developing the condition. This is often determined by your smoking history.<\/p>\n It\u2019s recommended that people with a high risk of lung cancer get annual screenings from around age 50 until age 80.<\/p>\n A LDCT scan is a type of X-ray that uses low doses of radiation to take multiple detailed pictures of your lungs. It only takes a few minutes and doesn\u2019t require any special preparations.<\/p>\n Lung cancer screenings<\/a>\u00a0are recommended for anyone who has at least a 20 pack-year smoking history and currently smokes or has quit in the last 15 years. Pack-years are calculated by multiplying the average number of packs you smoke per day by the number of years you\u2019ve smoked.<\/p>\n Osteoporosis, meaning porous bones, is a condition that causes bones to become thin and brittle. Bone density naturally decreases with age, but some people lose more than others. This can lead to osteoporosis and an increased risk of bone fractures. Osteoporosis is more common in women than men, but anyone age 50-64 with risk factors for low bone density can benefit from talking with their doctor about screening.<\/p>\n A DXA scan is an advanced form of X-ray that\u2019s used to look at the mineral density of your bones. Doctors typically pay special attention to common fracture points (the hip and lumbar spine), but they\u2019ll use the full results to determine your overall risk of bone fracture. DXA screenings for osteoporosis are generally repeated every two years.<\/p>\n Talk with your doctor about\u00a0osteoporosis screenings<\/a>\u00a0if you:<\/p>\nWhat screenings and checkups do men need regularly?<\/h2>\n
Annual physicals<\/h3>\n
Dental exams<\/h3>\n
Eye exams<\/h3>\n
Men\u2019s health screenings in your 20s<\/h2>\n
Screenings for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs)<\/h3>\n
STI screening options can vary<\/h4>\n
When to get tested for STIs and STDs<\/h4>\n
Men\u2019s health screenings in your 30s<\/h2>\n
Diabetes screenings<\/h3>\n
Diabetes screening options<\/h4>\n
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When to get diabetes screenings<\/h4>\n
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Cholesterol screenings<\/h3>\n
Cholesterol is checked using a lipid profile<\/h4>\n
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When to get a cholesterol test<\/h4>\n
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Men\u2019s health screenings in your 40s<\/h2>\n
Colorectal cancer screening<\/h3>\n
Colorectal cancer screenings include sample testing or examinations<\/h4>\n
When to get colorectal cancer screenings<\/h4>\n
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Men\u2019s health screenings in your 50s<\/h2>\n
Lung cancer screenings<\/h3>\n
Low-dose computed tomography (LDCT): the only recommended lung cancer screening<\/h4>\n
Who should get screened for lung cancer<\/h4>\n
Osteoporosis screenings<\/h3>\n
Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) to check for osteoporosis<\/h4>\n
Who should get checked for osteoporosis<\/h4>\n