Men’s Health – Preventative Heath Screenings
June is National Men’s Health Month and it is my goal to ensure that every man in our Rehab 2 Perform community is as healthy as possible both mentally and physically. Pursuing health and fitness is not a destination but instead a journey and a big part of that journey is keeping up with preventative health screenings since these tests allow us to look internally and assess risk and catch disease before it progresses. Men have an increased risk for cardiovascular disease and it tends to impact them earlier in life than women which is why It is never too early to start working on reducing disease risk.
Below is a list of specific screenings for men throughout the lifespan so you can ensure you are up to date on your health!
In Your 20’s
- This is the best time to start getting routine blood work to assess the basics and also get an insight to your cholesterol. Unless otherwise directed by your doctor, you should get bloodwork done every 1-3 years until your mid-thirties.
In Your 30’s
- At age 35 it is recommended to start assessing your risk for diabetes by getting your hemoglobin A1c (HgbA1c) checked. This test can be done annually if you are at a higher risk for developing the disease.
- This is also the decade to start getting your blood pressure checked annually and ensuring you are in a good rhythm with exercise and are prioritizing quality sleep.
In Your 40’s
- At age 45 it is time to schedule your first colonoscopy. Due to the increased frequency of colon cancer in younger adults the age for initial evaluation was reduced from 50 to 45. You will need to repeat this test at least every 10 years.
- It is advised to start getting routine eye exams, even without vision issues. In your 40’s to mid-50’s you should get an eye exam every 2-4 years. You want to ensure that you include an assessment of the health of your retina (back of the eye) every few years, unless you have diabetes and/ or high blood pressure which may warrant an eye and retina exam every year.
- You may also want to add an annual dermatology skin check. This exam will ensure you are not developing any forms of skin cancer including melanoma and in the US we have seen melanoma rates increase 40% over the past few years.
In Your 50’s
- In your 50’s it is recommended to start screening for lung cancer if you are a smoker (specifically if you smoked 20 packs per year at any point in your life). This screening is done via low-dose computed tomography (LDCT).
- It is also recommended to start assessing your prostate cancer risk. This is assessed via blood test where your PSA (prostate-specific antigen) is measured. This test is normally repeated at your annual physical with your primary care physician.
- You can also speak with your physician about your vaccination status and if there are any added vaccines that could be beneficial to your individual needs. Commonly needed vaccines include flu (needed annually), COVID-19, Tdap (needed every 10 years), Shingles and Varicella (if you never had chickenpox or the varicella vaccine and were born in or after 1980)
In Your 60’s and Beyond
- On top of maintaining all of your annual wellness checks you may need to assess your bone density depending on your individual risk factors. This is tested with a DEXA scan and may only need to be repeated if issues are detected or your provider deems it necessary.
- It is extremely important to stay physically active since the rate of age-related muscle loss known as sarcopenia increases steadily after the age of 55. If you have any aches and pains preventing you from exercising, get these addressed with a physical therapist. Physical therapy can also assist with improving balance and whole body strength which can increase the body’s resilience and reduce fall risk.
I hope this list helps you stay in front of any health issues or risks in your life. Your health is your greatest asset and something to actively care for every day. We at Rehab 2 Perform are always here to help you with your physical and nutritional needs so reach out to us any time.
-In Health & Happiness, Jessica Murgueytio
Fitness Focused Physical Therapy
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