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Health screenings for men ages 18 to 39

Show Alternative Names
Health maintenance visit - men - ages 18 to 39
Physical exam - men - ages 18 to 39
Yearly exam - men - ages 18 to 39
Checkup - men - ages 18 to 39
Men's health - ages 18 to 39
Preventive care exam - men - ages 18 to 39

You should visit your health care provider regularly, even if you feel healthy. The purpose of these visits is to:

  • Screen for medical issues
  • Assess your risk for future medical problems
  • Encourage a healthy lifestyle
  • Update vaccinations and other preventive care services
  • Help you get to know your provider in case of an illness

Video Transcript

Physical exam frequency - Animation

When you feel perfectly fine, the last thing you want to think about is seeing your health care provider. But that's exactly when you should be thinking about getting a checkup. Regular checkups, as well as certain health screenings and vaccinations, can be powerful ways to protect your health. Checkups are also called physical exams, annual wellness visits, and routine exams. Many conditions that threaten your health don't have any symptoms. For example, you might have no idea that you have high blood pressure or high cholesterol, until they make you sick. How often you need checkups and what screening tests you get, depends on your age and sex. If you are age 18 to 64, you should see your provider once every 1 to 5 years depending on what health conditions you have. Starting at age 65, you'll want to visit your provider at least once a year. At each checkup, your height, weight, and blood pressure will be checked. Your provider will also talk with you about any health screenings and vaccinations you may need. All adults age 18 and older should have their blood pressure checked every year. Have it checked during a checkup, or look for blood pressure screenings at health fairs or drug stores in your area. If you have a history of high blood pressure readings, or you have risk factors for high blood pressure, such as diabetes or heart disease, you may need your blood pressure checked more often. Your health care provider may ask you about any symptoms of depression and anxiety, your diet and exercise habits, alcohol, tobacco, and drug use, safety issues, such as using seat belts, smoke detectors, and intimate partner violence, your medicines and risk for interactions, and health screenings and vaccinations you may need. If you are age 35 and are overweight or have obesity, you should have your blood sugar tested for prediabetes, and type 2 diabetes. After this, you should have this screening test every 3 years if you are overweight or have obesity. Starting at age 35 for men, and 45 for women, you should have a cholesterol test once every 5 years. People with certain health conditions may need to have their cholesterol checked more often. Starting at age 45, everyone should be screened for colon cancer. You have several options for the type of colon cancer screening you can have. Your options include, a colonoscopy every 10 years, a stool test, either a fecal occult blood test, FOBT, or a fecal immunochemical test, FIT, every year, a stool DNA FIT test every 1 to 3 years, a flexible sigmoidoscopy every 5 years, or every 10 years with yearly stool testing, and a CT colonography every 5 years. You should have an annual screening for lung cancer with low-dose computed tomography, LDCT, if you are age 50 to 80 years, AND you have a 20 pack-year smoking history, AND you currently smoke or have quit within the past 15 years. Women need a Pap test to check for cervical cancer starting at age 21, and then every 3 years until age 65 if test results are normal. Women ages 30 to 65 can have either a Pap test every three years, or the HPV test every 5 years. Starting at age 40, women should have a mammogram to check for breast cancer every 1 to 2 years. Because bones can become brittle with age, women ages 65 and older should have a bone density scan. Younger women and men should talk to their provider about whether they need a bone density test based on their risks. If you are male, and age 55 through 69 years old, talk to your provider about the pros and cons of having a prostate specific antigen blood test. Ask your provider whether screening decreases your chance of dying from prostate cancer, whether there is any harm from prostate cancer screening, such as side effects from testing or overtreatment of cancer when discovered, and whether you have a higher risk of prostate cancer than others. One of the best ways to avoid unexpected visits to your provider, and protect your health, is to get the vaccines that are right for you. Vaccines aren't just for children. Everyone ages 6 months and older should get a flu vaccine each fall or early winter to protect them for the whole season. You can also get a vaccine to protect against COVID-19 at the same time. Once every 10 years, get a T dap vaccine, which protects against tetanus, diphtheria, and acellular pertussis. Older adults also need to get vaccinated against pneumonia, (pneumococcal infection), and shingles. Ask your provider about other vaccines you may need. To keep your teeth strong and healthy, visit your dentist twice a year for a cleaning and exam. Eye exams are also important, especially if you have glaucoma or another vision problem. All adults age 65 and older should have a comprehensive eye exam every year. If you are under age 65, check with your provider for advice about eye exams. Seeing your provider for regular checkups and screenings, can help prevent and find potential problems before you have a chance to get sick. Being proactive is the best way to protect your health.

Information

Even if you feel fine, you should still see your provider for regular checkups. These visits can help you avoid problems in the future. For example, the only way to find out if you have high blood pressure is to have it checked regularly. High blood sugar and high cholesterol level also may not have any symptoms in the early stages. Simple blood tests can check for these conditions.

There are specific times when you should see your provider or receive specific health screenings. The US Preventive Services Task Force publishes a list of recommended screenings. Below are screening guidelines for men ages 18 to 39.

BLOOD PRESSURE SCREENING

Your blood pressure should be checked at least once every 3 to 5 years if:

  • Your blood pressure is in the normal range (top number less than 120 mm Hg and bottom number less than 80 mm Hg)
  • You don't have risk factors for high blood pressure

Ask your provider if you need your blood pressure checked more often if:

  • The top number is from 120 to 129 mm Hg or the bottom number is from 70 to 79 mm Hg
  • You have diabetes, heart disease, kidney problems, are overweight, or have certain other health conditions
  • You have a first-degree relative with high blood pressure
  • You are Black

If the top number is 130 mm Hg or greater or the bottom number is 80 mm Hg or greater, this is considered stage 1 hypertension. Schedule an appointment with your provider to learn how you can reduce your blood pressure.

Watch for blood pressure screenings in your neighborhood or workplace. Ask your provider if you can stop in to have your blood pressure checked.

CHOLESTEROL SCREENING

Cholesterol screening should begin at:

  • Age 35 for men with no known risk factors for coronary heart disease
  • Age 20 for men with known risk factors for coronary heart disease

Repeat cholesterol screening should take place:

  • Every 5 years for men with normal cholesterol levels
  • More often if changes occur in lifestyle (including weight gain and diet)
  • More often if you have diabetes, heart disease, kidney problems, or certain other conditions

DIABETES SCREENING

You should be screened for diabetes starting at age 35 and then repeated every 3 years if you have no risk factors for diabetes.

Screening may need to start earlier and be repeated more often if you have other risk factors for diabetes, such as:

  • You have a first degree relative with diabetes.
  • You are overweight or have obesity.
  • You have high blood pressure, prediabetes, or a history of heart disease.
  • Go to the dentist once or twice every year for an exam and cleaning. Your dentist will evaluate if you have a need for more frequent visits.

EYE EXAM

  • Have an eye exam every 5 to 10 years before age 40.
  • If you have vision problems, have an eye exam every 2 years, or more often if recommended by your provider.
  • Have an eye exam that includes an examination of your retina (back of your eye) at least every year if you have diabetes.

IMMUNIZATIONS

Commonly needed vaccines include:

  • Flu shot: get one every year.
  • COVID-19 vaccine: ask your provider what is best for you.
  • Tetanus-diphtheria and acellular pertussis (Tdap) vaccine: have one at or after age 19 as one of your tetanus-diphtheria vaccines if you did not receive it as an adolescent.
  • Tetanus-diphtheria: have a booster (or Tdap) every 10 years.
  • Varicella vaccine: receive two doses if you never had chickenpox or the varicella vaccine.
  • Hepatitis B vaccine: receive 2, 3, or 4 doses, depending on your exact circumstances.
  • Measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine: receive one to two doses if you are not already immune to MMR. Your doctor can tell you if you are immune

Ask your provider about the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine if you have:

  • Not received the HPV vaccine in the past
  • Not completed the full vaccine series (you should catch up on this shot)

Ask your provider if you should receive other immunizations if you have certain medical conditions, such as diabetes or are at increased risk for some diseases such as pneumonia.

INFECTIOUS DISEASE SCREENING

  • All adults ages 18 to 79 should get a one-time test for hepatitis C.
  • All people ages 15 to 65 should get a one-time test for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)
  • Depending on your lifestyle and medical history, you may need to be screened for infections such as syphilis, chlamydia, and other infections.

PHYSICAL EXAM

All adults should visit their provider from time to time, even if they are healthy. The purpose of these visits is to:

  • Screen for diseases
  • Assess risk of future medical problems
  • Encourage a healthy lifestyle
  • Update vaccinations and other preventive care services
  • Maintain a relationship with a provider in case of an illness

Your height, weight, and BMI should be checked at every exam.

During your exam, your provider may ask you about:

  • Depression and anxiety
  • Diet and exercise
  • Alcohol and tobacco use
  • Safety, such as use of seat belts and smoke detectors
  • Your medicines and risk for interactions

TESTICULAR EXAM

  • The US Preventive Services Task Force recommends against performing testicular self-exam. Doing testicular exams has been shown to have little to no benefit.

SKIN SELF-EXAM

  • Your provider may check your skin for signs of skin cancer, especially if you're at high risk, such as if you have had skin cancer before.
  • Have close relatives with skin cancer.
  • Have a weakened immune system.

OTHER SCREENING

  • Talk with your provider about colon cancer screening if you have a strong family history of colon cancer or polyps, or if you have had inflammatory bowel disease or polyps yourself.
Review Date: 8/1/2023

Reviewed By

David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team. Editorial update 04/18/2023. Internal review and update on 08/01/23. Editorial update 09/26/2024/.

References

American Academy of Ophthalmology website. Clinical statement: comprehensive adult medical eye examination PPP 2020. www.aao.org/education/preferred-practice-pattern/comprehensive-adult-medical-eye-evaluation-ppp. Updated November 2020. Accessed July 30, 2023.

American Dental Association website. Your top 9 questions about going to the dentist -- answered! www.mouthhealthy.org/en/dental-care-concerns/questions-about-going-to-the-dentist. Accessed July 30, 2023.

Atkins D, Barton M. The periodic health examination. In: Goldman L, Schafer AI, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 26th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 12.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website. Recommended Vaccinations for Adults. Recommended Immunizations for adults aged 19 years and older, United States, 2024. www.cdc.gov/vaccines/imz-schedules/adult-easyread.html. Updated August 14, 2024. Accessed September 26, 2024. 

ElSayed NA, Aleppo G, Aroda VR, American Diabetes Association, et al. Professional Practice Committee. 2. Classification and diagnosis of diabetes: standards of medical care in diabetes-2023. Diabetes Care. 2023;46(Suppl 1):S19-S30. PMID: 36507649. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36507649/.

Grundy SM, Stone NJ, Bailey AL, et al. 2018 AHA/ACC/AACVPR/AAPA/ABC/ACPM/ADA/AGS/APhA/ASPC/NLA/PCNA Guideline on the management of blood cholesterol: a report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Task Force on Clinical Practice Guidelines [published correction appears in J Am Coll Cardiol. 2019 Jun 25;73(24):3237-3241]. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2019;73(24):e285-e350. PMID: 30423393 pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30423393/.

Meschia JF, Bushnell C, Boden-Albala B; American Heart Association Stroke Council; et al. Guidelines for the primary prevention of stroke: a statement for healthcare professionals from the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association. Stroke. 2014;45(12):3754-3832. PMID: 25355838 pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25355838/.

Mora S, Libby P, Ridker PM. Primary prevention of cardiovascular disease. In: Libby P, Bonow RO, Mann DL, Tomaselli GF, Bhatt DL, Solomon SD, eds. Braunwald's Heart Disease: A Textbook of Cardiovascular Medicine. 12th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2022:chap 25. 

US Preventive Services Task Force website. A and B recommendations. www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/uspstf/recommendation-topics/uspstf-a-and-b-recommendations. Accessed July 30, 2023.

US Preventive Services Task Force website. Final recommendation statement. Hepatitis C virus infection in adolescents and adults: screening. www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/uspstf/recommendation/hepatitis-c-screening. Published March 2, 2020. Accessed July 30, 2023.

US Preventive Services Task Force website. Final recommendation statement. Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection: screening. www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/uspstf/recommendation/human-immunodeficiency-virus-hiv-infection-screening. Published June 11, 2019. Accessed July 30, 2023.

US Preventive Services Task Force website. Hypertension in adults: screening. www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/uspstf/recommendation/hypertension-in-adults-screening. Published April 27, 2021. Accessed July 30, 2023.

US Preventive Services Task Force website. Final recommendation statement. Prediabetes and type 2 diabetes: screening. www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/uspstf/recommendation/screening-for-prediabetes-and-type-2-diabetes. Updated August 24, 2021. Accessed July 30, 2023.

US Preventive Services Task Force website. Final recommendation statement. Skin cancer: screening. www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/uspstf/recommendation/skin-cancer-screening. Updated April 18, 2023. Accessed July 30, 2023.

US Preventive Services Task Force website. Testicular cancer: screening. www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/uspstf/recommendation/testicular-cancer-screening. Published April 15, 2011. Accessed July 30, 2023.

Whelton PK, Carey RM, Mancia G, Kreutz R, Bundy JD, Williams B. Harmonization of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association and European Society of Cardiology/European Society of Hypertension Blood Pressure/Hypertension Guidelines: comparisons, reflections, and recommendations. Circulation. 2022;146:868-877. DOI: 10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.121.054602. PMID 35950927. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35950927/.

Disclaimer

The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed medical professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. No warranty of any kind, either expressed or implied, is made as to the accuracy, reliability, timeliness, or correctness of any translations made by a third-party service of the information provided herein into any other language. © 1997- A.D.A.M., a business unit of Ebix, Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.

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Physical exam frequency

Physical exam frequency

Animation

Cholesterol and triglyceride test

Cholesterol and triglyceride test

Animation

Blood pressure check - Illustration Thumbnail

Blood pressure check

To measure blood pressure, your doctor uses an instrument call a sphygmomanometer, which is more often referred to as a blood pressure cuff. The cuff is wrapped around your upper arm and inflated to stop the flow of blood in your artery. As the cuff is slowly deflated, your doctor uses a stethoscope to listen to the blood pumping through the artery. These pumping sounds register on a gauge attached to the cuff. The first pumping sound your doctor hears is recorded as the systolic pressure, and the last sound is the diastolic pressure.

Illustration

 
Physical exam frequency

Physical exam frequency

Animation

Cholesterol and triglyceride test

Cholesterol and triglyceride test

Animation

 
Blood pressure check - Illustration Thumbnail

Blood pressure check

To measure blood pressure, your doctor uses an instrument call a sphygmomanometer, which is more often referred to as a blood pressure cuff. The cuff is wrapped around your upper arm and inflated to stop the flow of blood in your artery. As the cuff is slowly deflated, your doctor uses a stethoscope to listen to the blood pumping through the artery. These pumping sounds register on a gauge attached to the cuff. The first pumping sound your doctor hears is recorded as the systolic pressure, and the last sound is the diastolic pressure.

Illustration

 
 
 

Physical exam frequency - Animation

When you feel perfectly fine, the last thing you want to think about is seeing your health care provider. But that's exactly when you should be thinking about getting a checkup. Regular checkups, as well as certain health screenings and vaccinations, can be powerful ways to protect your health. Checkups are also called physical exams, annual wellness visits, and routine exams.

Many conditions that threaten your health don't have any symptoms. For example, you might have no idea that you have high blood pressure or high cholesterol, until they make you sick.

How often you need checkups and what screening tests you get, depends on your age and sex. If you are age 18 to 64, you should see your provider once every 1 to 5 years depending on what health conditions you have. Starting at age 65, you'll want to visit your provider at least once a year.

At each checkup, your height, weight, and blood pressure will be checked. Your provider will also talk with you about any health screenings and vaccinations you may need.

All adults age 18 and older should have their blood pressure checked every year. Have it checked during a checkup, or look for blood pressure screenings at health fairs or drug stores in your area. If you have a history of high blood pressure readings, or you have risk factors for high blood pressure, such as diabetes or heart disease, you may need your blood pressure checked more often.

Your health care provider may ask you about any symptoms of depression and anxiety, your diet and exercise habits, alcohol, tobacco, and drug use, safety issues, such as using seat belts, smoke detectors, and intimate partner violence, your medicines and risk for interactions, and health screenings and vaccinations you may need.

If you are age 35 and are overweight or have obesity, you should have your blood sugar tested for prediabetes, and type 2 diabetes. After this, you should have this screening test every 3 years if you are overweight or have obesity. Starting at age 35 for men, and 45 for women, you should have a cholesterol test once every 5 years. People with certain health conditions may need to have their cholesterol checked more often.

Starting at age 45, everyone should be screened for colon cancer. You have several options for the type of colon cancer screening you can have. Your options include, a colonoscopy every 10 years, a stool test, either a fecal occult blood test, FOBT, or a fecal immunochemical test, FIT, every year, a stool DNA FIT test every 1 to 3 years, a flexible sigmoidoscopy every 5 years, or every 10 years with yearly stool testing, and a CT colonography every 5 years.

You should have an annual screening for lung cancer with low-dose computed tomography, LDCT, if you are age 50 to 80 years, AND you have a 20 pack-year smoking history, AND you currently smoke or have quit within the past 15 years.

Women need a Pap test to check for cervical cancer starting at age 21, and then every 3 years until age 65 if test results are normal. Women ages 30 to 65 can have either a Pap test every three years, or the HPV test every 5 years. Starting at age 40, women should have a mammogram to check for breast cancer every 1 to 2 years. Because bones can become brittle with age, women ages 65 and older should have a bone density scan. Younger women and men should talk to their provider about whether they need a bone density test based on their risks.

If you are male, and age 55 through 69 years old, talk to your provider about the pros and cons of having a prostate specific antigen blood test.

Ask your provider whether screening decreases your chance of dying from prostate cancer, whether there is any harm from prostate cancer screening, such as side effects from testing or overtreatment of cancer when discovered, and whether you have a higher risk of prostate cancer than others.

One of the best ways to avoid unexpected visits to your provider, and protect your health, is to get the vaccines that are right for you. Vaccines aren't just for children.

Everyone ages 6 months and older should get a flu vaccine each fall or early winter to protect them for the whole season. You can also get a vaccine to protect against COVID-19 at the same time. Once every 10 years, get a T dap vaccine, which protects against tetanus, diphtheria, and acellular pertussis. Older adults also need to get vaccinated against pneumonia, (pneumococcal infection), and shingles. Ask your provider about other vaccines you may need.

To keep your teeth strong and healthy, visit your dentist twice a year for a cleaning and exam.

Eye exams are also important, especially if you have glaucoma or another vision problem. All adults age 65 and older should have a comprehensive eye exam every year. If you are under age 65, check with your provider for advice about eye exams.

Seeing your provider for regular checkups and screenings, can help prevent and find potential problems before you have a chance to get sick. Being proactive is the best way to protect your health.

 

Cholesterol and triglyceride test - Animation

Maybe you've been eating fast food more often than you should, or you're not getting your recommended two-and-a-half hours of exercise each week. Or, it could be that you smoke, or your blood pressure is too high. Well, for whatever reason, you may be concerned about your risk of getting heart disease.

Well, a few tests can help you learn that risk, so you can start making healthy lifestyle changes to reduce it. A coronary risk profile is a group of blood tests that measure your cholesterol and triglyceride levels. Why is it important to know these levels? Because if you have too much of these substances in your blood from eating foods like burgers and French fries, they can clog your arteries. Eventually your arteries can become so clogged that you'll have a heart attack or stroke.

Men should have their cholesterol tested by the time they're 35. Women should have it checked by age 45. If you have a condition like diabetes, heart disease, stroke, or high blood pressure, have your cholesterol checked now, no matter what your age.

To measure your cholesterol, your doctor will give you a blood test. If you're also having your triglyceride level checked, you may be told not to eat or drink anything for 8 to 12 hours before the test. Depending upon your heart risk, the doctor may measure just your total cholesterol level, or your total cholesterol along with your LDL, or "bad" cholesterol, HDL, or "good" cholesterol, and triglycerides. If you're of average risk of getting heart disease, your goal is to have total cholesterol of less than 200 milligrams per deciliter, LDL cholesterol lower than 130 milligrams per deciliter, HDL cholesterol higher than 40 milligrams per deciliter if you're a man, or 50 if you're a woman -- the higher the better, and triglycerides of less than 150 also, the lower the better.

Although some illnesses, like arthritis, can raise your cholesterol level, generally having high cholesterol means that you're at increased risk for heart disease and stroke. It's a sign you need to work harder to keep your heart healthy. If your cholesterol levels are normal, that's great! That means that you're eating right, you're exercising, and you're taking good care of your health. You don't need to have another cholesterol test for about five years. But if your cholesterol level is high, or you've already got heart disease, high blood pressure, or diabetes, you'll need to have your cholesterol levels checked more often.

Keeping close tabs on your cholesterol and triglyceride levels is one way that you can take charge of your health, and change it for the better.

 

Physical exam frequency - Animation

When you feel perfectly fine, the last thing you want to think about is seeing your health care provider. But that's exactly when you should be thinking about getting a checkup. Regular checkups, as well as certain health screenings and vaccinations, can be powerful ways to protect your health. Checkups are also called physical exams, annual wellness visits, and routine exams.

Many conditions that threaten your health don't have any symptoms. For example, you might have no idea that you have high blood pressure or high cholesterol, until they make you sick.

How often you need checkups and what screening tests you get, depends on your age and sex. If you are age 18 to 64, you should see your provider once every 1 to 5 years depending on what health conditions you have. Starting at age 65, you'll want to visit your provider at least once a year.

At each checkup, your height, weight, and blood pressure will be checked. Your provider will also talk with you about any health screenings and vaccinations you may need.

All adults age 18 and older should have their blood pressure checked every year. Have it checked during a checkup, or look for blood pressure screenings at health fairs or drug stores in your area. If you have a history of high blood pressure readings, or you have risk factors for high blood pressure, such as diabetes or heart disease, you may need your blood pressure checked more often.

Your health care provider may ask you about any symptoms of depression and anxiety, your diet and exercise habits, alcohol, tobacco, and drug use, safety issues, such as using seat belts, smoke detectors, and intimate partner violence, your medicines and risk for interactions, and health screenings and vaccinations you may need.

If you are age 35 and are overweight or have obesity, you should have your blood sugar tested for prediabetes, and type 2 diabetes. After this, you should have this screening test every 3 years if you are overweight or have obesity. Starting at age 35 for men, and 45 for women, you should have a cholesterol test once every 5 years. People with certain health conditions may need to have their cholesterol checked more often.

Starting at age 45, everyone should be screened for colon cancer. You have several options for the type of colon cancer screening you can have. Your options include, a colonoscopy every 10 years, a stool test, either a fecal occult blood test, FOBT, or a fecal immunochemical test, FIT, every year, a stool DNA FIT test every 1 to 3 years, a flexible sigmoidoscopy every 5 years, or every 10 years with yearly stool testing, and a CT colonography every 5 years.

You should have an annual screening for lung cancer with low-dose computed tomography, LDCT, if you are age 50 to 80 years, AND you have a 20 pack-year smoking history, AND you currently smoke or have quit within the past 15 years.

Women need a Pap test to check for cervical cancer starting at age 21, and then every 3 years until age 65 if test results are normal. Women ages 30 to 65 can have either a Pap test every three years, or the HPV test every 5 years. Starting at age 40, women should have a mammogram to check for breast cancer every 1 to 2 years. Because bones can become brittle with age, women ages 65 and older should have a bone density scan. Younger women and men should talk to their provider about whether they need a bone density test based on their risks.

If you are male, and age 55 through 69 years old, talk to your provider about the pros and cons of having a prostate specific antigen blood test.

Ask your provider whether screening decreases your chance of dying from prostate cancer, whether there is any harm from prostate cancer screening, such as side effects from testing or overtreatment of cancer when discovered, and whether you have a higher risk of prostate cancer than others.

One of the best ways to avoid unexpected visits to your provider, and protect your health, is to get the vaccines that are right for you. Vaccines aren't just for children.

Everyone ages 6 months and older should get a flu vaccine each fall or early winter to protect them for the whole season. You can also get a vaccine to protect against COVID-19 at the same time. Once every 10 years, get a T dap vaccine, which protects against tetanus, diphtheria, and acellular pertussis. Older adults also need to get vaccinated against pneumonia, (pneumococcal infection), and shingles. Ask your provider about other vaccines you may need.

To keep your teeth strong and healthy, visit your dentist twice a year for a cleaning and exam.

Eye exams are also important, especially if you have glaucoma or another vision problem. All adults age 65 and older should have a comprehensive eye exam every year. If you are under age 65, check with your provider for advice about eye exams.

Seeing your provider for regular checkups and screenings, can help prevent and find potential problems before you have a chance to get sick. Being proactive is the best way to protect your health.

 

Cholesterol and triglyceride test - Animation

Maybe you've been eating fast food more often than you should, or you're not getting your recommended two-and-a-half hours of exercise each week. Or, it could be that you smoke, or your blood pressure is too high. Well, for whatever reason, you may be concerned about your risk of getting heart disease.

Well, a few tests can help you learn that risk, so you can start making healthy lifestyle changes to reduce it. A coronary risk profile is a group of blood tests that measure your cholesterol and triglyceride levels. Why is it important to know these levels? Because if you have too much of these substances in your blood from eating foods like burgers and French fries, they can clog your arteries. Eventually your arteries can become so clogged that you'll have a heart attack or stroke.

Men should have their cholesterol tested by the time they're 35. Women should have it checked by age 45. If you have a condition like diabetes, heart disease, stroke, or high blood pressure, have your cholesterol checked now, no matter what your age.

To measure your cholesterol, your doctor will give you a blood test. If you're also having your triglyceride level checked, you may be told not to eat or drink anything for 8 to 12 hours before the test. Depending upon your heart risk, the doctor may measure just your total cholesterol level, or your total cholesterol along with your LDL, or "bad" cholesterol, HDL, or "good" cholesterol, and triglycerides. If you're of average risk of getting heart disease, your goal is to have total cholesterol of less than 200 milligrams per deciliter, LDL cholesterol lower than 130 milligrams per deciliter, HDL cholesterol higher than 40 milligrams per deciliter if you're a man, or 50 if you're a woman -- the higher the better, and triglycerides of less than 150 also, the lower the better.

Although some illnesses, like arthritis, can raise your cholesterol level, generally having high cholesterol means that you're at increased risk for heart disease and stroke. It's a sign you need to work harder to keep your heart healthy. If your cholesterol levels are normal, that's great! That means that you're eating right, you're exercising, and you're taking good care of your health. You don't need to have another cholesterol test for about five years. But if your cholesterol level is high, or you've already got heart disease, high blood pressure, or diabetes, you'll need to have your cholesterol levels checked more often.

Keeping close tabs on your cholesterol and triglyceride levels is one way that you can take charge of your health, and change it for the better.

 
 
 
 

 

 
 
 
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