Essential Health Checks for Men

For some reason, men dread having to go to the doctor for regular health checks, even if the annual executive checkup covers them. What most do not realize is that these health checks for men contribute greatly to preventing countless diseases including the debilitating ones like heart disease, diabetes, prostate cancer and blindness. The sooner they are detected, the sooner treatment can be administered; and for some ailments, this can be a lifesaving deal. book doctors appointments

Here are the five major areas of health concerns for men:

Heart

A stressful career and family life plus a sedentary lifestyle can spell disaster in terms of your cardiovascular health. This is why health checks for men always include checking factors that contribute to heart disease. Aside from checking a man’s weight and body mass, his blood pressure is taken as well as blood samples to check for cholesterol levels as well as triglycerides. Increased or increasing levels are an indicator of possible cardiovascular problems. If your doctors suspect something, you may be asked to come in for an ECG or 2D echo tests to confirm any irregularities.

Read: 13 Ways Men Can Live a Healthier Lifestyle

Diabetes

Considered as the silent killer, type 2 diabetes Miletus is a condition prevalent among millions of men and women all over the world. Today’s sedentary lifestyle and poor eating habits have contributed to the booming number of men who have it. Checking for diabetes may include taking your fasting blood sugar levels, or having to go through an oral glucose tolerance test to see if your body can still metabolize sugars within the prescribed time.

Diabetes is a manageable condition. Finding out if you have it in the early stages is the best way to prevent the onset of complications and side effects.

Prostate Cancer

Men over the age of 50 should not miss a prostate cancer test. Most health checks for men require a digital prostate examination to see if there are any abnormalities or growths in a man’s prostate gland. However, patients who are at a high-risk for prostate cancer are advised to have this test done earlier and to see their doctors more often for routine testing.

Bowel Cancer

Men who are at risk of contracting this kind of cancer are advised to have a colonoscopy once every five years. Men aged 50 and above are required to have a fecal occult blood test (FOBT) every other year to check for blood in their feces.

Eye Conditions

Health checks for men often do not include a thorough eye examination. This kind of test is different from the one you get when you’re having new eyeglasses fitted. Having your eye condition checked should be done at least every other year if you’re in your 20s and once a year if you’re 30 and above. Glaucoma, cataracts, macular degeneration, and diabetic retinopathy, are just some of the things to watch out for and prevent.

Patient History Counts

Aside from the actual physical examination, health checks for men also include a through look at your family history. Heart problems, cancer, and diabetes are just some of what is considered as hereditary diseases. So if your parents or aunts or grandparents had them, you are at a higher risk of contracting them as well.