Health Screenings Every Man Should Get
- Category: General Health, Family Medicine, Geriatric Medicine, Heart & Vascular Care, Men's Health
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Tests and Screenings Recommended for Men
In light of Men's Health Month, the health experts at Southwest General share the following routine tests that men should get done to keep their health in top condition.
Heart Disease
According to the CDC, heart disease is the leading cause of death for men in the United States, being responsible for one in four male deaths. Unfortunately, about half of the men dying from coronary heart disease have displayed no previous symptoms. With such shockingly high statistics and few warning signs, it is imperative that men see their primary care doctor on a regular basis to discuss their risks for developing heart disease and what lifestyle changes can be made to minimize that risk.
Prostate Cancer
The CDC outlines that about 13 in 100 men will develop prostate cancer during their lifetime, and about two in three of these men will die from prostate cancer. The biggest risk factor for developing this type of cancer is age, meaning the older a man gets, the more likely he is to get prostate cancer. It is advised that men between the ages of 55 and 79 get screened regularly with a prostate specific antigen (PSA) test.
Colorectal Cancer
The American Cancer Society states that colorectal cancer is the third most commonly diagnosed form of cancer, excluding skin cancer, with more 150,000 new cases in the U.S. each year. For men specifically, one in 23 men will develop colorectal at some point in their lifetime, making it imperative for men to get screened regularly. Be sure to reach out to your primary care doctor to discuss how often you should be getting a colonoscopy and when you should start screenings depending on your unique risk factors.
If you have specific health concerns, be sure to talk to your primary care physician to discuss your risk factors and what other types of health screenings may be appropriate for you.
