Maintaining good health is essential to leading a happy and fulfilling life. Unfortunately, men often tend to neglect their health due to busy schedules or simply ignoring warning signs. Annual checkups are essential to monitor your health, identify potential health problems early on, and take steps to prevent or treat them to live a healthier, more active life. Here are some of such screening tests that every man should get:
Blood Pressure Screening
A blood pressure check should be done at least once a year to better understand your risk of heart disease, stroke, and kidney disease. High blood pressure, also called hypertension, is a silent killer that must be identified before it causes serious health problems.
With regular screenings, doctors can get an accurate blood pressure reading and suggest lifestyle changes, such as eating a healthy diet, and increasing physical activity to maintain normal blood pressure. Blood pressure screening is relatively easy and inexpensive and can be done at a doctor’s office, a pharmacy, or even at home with a blood pressure monitor. Today, there are services available that enable the measurement of blood pressure from the comfort of your home, it’s especially convenient for individuals with busy schedules. For instance, there are options like a house call doctors in Sacramento or other location near you, exemplify the accessibility of healthcare without compromising on time constraints.
Hearing Tests
The risk of losing hearing abilities increases with age, and the onset can begin early on. Timely intervention can ensure your quality of life does not decline. Hearing tests assess an individual’s ability to hear sounds of varying volumes and frequencies. They are essential to determine a decline in hearing ability, so the doctor can recommend appropriate measures to preserve existing hearing.
There are several types of hearing tests, but the most common is the pure-tone audiometry test. It involves making patients listen for sounds of different frequencies and volumes to determine which ones they can hear. Other tests may involve speech recognition, middle ear analysis, or otoacoustic emissions testing.
Hearing test services are available at many healthcare facilities and centers, including HearCanada. They can help identify the specific type and level of hearing loss and inform the selection of the most appropriate hearing aids.
Diabetes Screening
Diabetes can pose a serious health risk if left untreated. There are two main types of diabetes: Type 1 is caused by an autoimmune reaction that halts insulin production, and Type 2 results from the body not using insulin properly.
Diabetes, especially Type 2, is more prevalent in males than females as men store more fats in their liver and around their waist. Fats hinder the insulin-signaling process in the body, resulting in a sharp spike in blood sugar levels. Men should be screened for diabetes at the beginning of age 45 to prevent the disease’s high-impact effects on their life later.
Regular screening is essential to early diagnosis and diabetes care, and it can reduce your risk of complications, including heart disease and kidney damage. The most common diabetes screening is a fasting plasma glucose test that requires you to avoid food or drinks other than water for eight hours before it is conducted. A fasting blood glucose level of 100 to 125 mg/dL means you have prediabetes, while a higher than 125 mg/dL level indicates diabetes.
Cholesterol Check
Men tend to have higher cholesterol than women because of many factors, including the need for more testosterone production. According to the National Cholesterol Education Program, individuals who are 20 years or older should undergo a cholesterol test every five years, while individuals with a family history of heart disease may require more frequent testing.
A cholesterol check involves simple fasting blood tests to measure cholesterol levels and elevated triglycerides. High levels of LDL or ‘bad’ cholesterol and triglycerides (fat in the blood that the body uses for energy) means increased chances of plaque buildup in arteries, leading to heart disease or stroke.
Cholesterol tests are similar to diabetes tests, in which you are required to not eat or drink for eight to 12 hours. Upon careful analysis of cholesterol numbers, health professionals can help understand your risk and recommend the best ways to manage your cholesterol levels, which can involve dietary changes or using cholesterol-lowering medications.
Infectious Disease Screening
Infectious disease screening may involve several different tests depending on the specific diseases being screened for. Some examples include:
- Blood tests: Blood tests may be used to screen for a range of infections, including HIV, syphilis, and hepatitis B and C.
- Urine tests: Urine tests can be used to screen for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) such as chlamydia and gonorrhea.
- Swab tests: Swabs may be taken from the urethra, rectum, or throat to screen for STIs such as chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis.
- Physical examination: A healthcare provider may perform a physical exam to check for symptoms of certain infectious diseases, such as genital warts or herpes.
- Imaging tests: Imaging tests, such as X-rays or CT scans, may be used to screen for certain infectious diseases, such as tuberculosis.
Note that infectious disease screening may vary depending on factors such as age, sexual activity, and other risk factors, so consult a healthcare provider to determine which tests may be appropriate for your situation.
Endnote
Annual health checks are a great way to determine the status of your bodily functions and identify any abnormalities early on, preventing life-threatening health conditions. Your body is a vessel for your heart and soul to carry you through your life, so it is vital that you take good care of it. Ensure that you visit a health professional annually to maintain your health.