Many things can go wrong when you get older. Medical conditions that younger men would have little chance of experiencing now have increased chances. Fortunately, many of them are easy to treat if you catch them early. Regular medical screening can potentially help with that. Here are the necessary tests you have to undergo if you want to ensure your health is in good shape, even at the age of 40 and above.
Cholesterol Screening
One of the first things that you should be checking is your cholesterol levels. It is one of the earliest factors you should be checking. According to the American Heart Association, every adult of 20 years and above should be getting their cholesterol checked every five or six years. If there are certain risk factors like being overweight or you already have heart disease, then the checks will be much closer to each other.
Your doctor will draw a blood sample and then check three things. First, there is the good cholesterol in your blood, the HDL. This protects you from heart attacks and stroke. Secondly, there is LDL cholesterol, which has a negative bad effect on your health. High LDL levels mean that your diet is high in saturated and trans fats. This can lead to heart diseases. Finally, triglycerides are the common fat in your blood. High triglycerides and LDL are a bad sign.
Diabetes Check
The next thing you should be checking is for diabetes. While the body can break down sugar properly when it is younger, age might start affecting that ability. It doesn’t help that many diabetes symptoms are often mistaken as signs of age. This includes difficulty seeing higher blood pressure and tingling in the extremities.
Doctors recommend diabetes testing every three years when you reach the age of 50. You might even have to come in more frequently if your family has a history of diabetes. The test is simple enough. There is a blood draw after drinking a sugary drink or a more accurate glucose tolerance test after some fasting.
Colonoscopy
Colon cancer is one of the big killers of men. It is also one of the more treatable forms of cancer as long as it is caught early. Many doctors recommend a colonoscopy, which is a type of endoscopy that focus on the colon area. This allows doctors to find any polyps, which are the usual sign of colon cancer. The process itself is painless and easy to do. Private diagnostic services like Vista Health have effective equipment and techniques are vital in getting a clear diagnosis, so make sure that your physician recommends the right one for you.
If the tests do show any signs of colon cancer, then your doctor can easily remove them before they get really bad. The usual interval for checking is every ten years when they reach the age of 50, but if your family has a history of colon cancer, you should be checking in more frequently.
Prostate Exam
Another major form of cancer that can strike men is prostate cancer. One in nine males will experience it. That is a high rate and can be worrying. If possible, you should be getting the test when you hit 45. The frequency will depend on your family history and what your doctor thinks of as the risks.
The test is a simple physical exam or a blood test. You can do the physical exam yourself by feeling your prostate. If it seems like it is too large or it is growing, consult your doctor immediately. Similar to colon cancer, early treatment can help you survive it.
STD Screening
Many people assume that sex lives are for younger people. However, older individuals have very healthy sexual relations. Thanks to modern medicine, people are staying sexually active, even as they grow older. If you have a healthy social life, then you might need to get some testing done.
The frequency of testing depends mainly on your relationship status. If you have multiple sexual partners or are in a non-monogamous relationship, then you likely need to come in more frequently. For those who are less social, then an STD screening before you begin a new relationship can be a good idea.
Proper testing should be done regularly. While there is only a small chance that missing out on a test can cause you problems, it is still a chance. If you want to be completely sure about your health, don’t skip out on any testing. If something does show up on the tests, you should immediately take it to your doctor so that you can get proper treatment.
