Last week we looked at Men’s health special focus: Male-specific health problems, and what to look out for to recognise other health problems. This week, the focus is on regular medical check-ups and which tests men should get according to their age.

ENSURING GOOD HEALTH FOR LIFE

Besides encouraging the men in your life to exercise, eat a high-fibre/low-fat diet, quit smoking, and do monthly self-exams, the most important step you can take is to get them into the habit of getting regular medical check-ups.

Here are several health maintenance milestones recommended by leading health organisations:

In their 20s:

• A complete physical every three years.
• Check blood pressure every year.
• Screening for cancers of the thyroid, testicles, lymph nodes, mouth and skin every three years.
• Cholesterol test for total, LDL, and HDL (the good kind) every three years.
• Testicular self-exam every month.

In their 30s, all of the above, plus:

• A complete physical every two years.

In their 40s, all of the above, plus:

• A complete physical every two years.
• A baseline prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test and digital rectal exam (DRE) at age 40 for all men.
• A prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test and digital rectal exam (DRE) every year if in a high-risk group. Other men should consult with their health care provider about an annual exam.
• Cancer tests every year.
• A stool test (for colon and rectal cancers) every year.

Starting at age 50, all of the above, plus:

• A sigmoidoscopy or colonoscopy (for colon cancers) every three to four years or as recommended by your health care provider.
• A prostate-specific antigen (PSA) and digital rectal exam (DRE) test every year.

Look out for next week’s newsletter, where we’ll look at women’s involvement in improving the state of men’s health, and what they can do to help.