Routine Health Care for Men

Routine checkups can find treatable problems early. For many medical problems, early treatment can help prevent more serious complications. The value of checkups and how often you have them depend mainly on your age. Your personal medical history and that of your family are also important.

What needs to be checked and how often?

The tests listed below are recommended for routine health care by the US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) and the American Academy of Family Practice (AAFP). They are the minimum checkup recommendations. You must discuss with your health care provider how often you should have physical exams and how often you need these or other tests. The frequency depends on your symptoms and your personal and family medical history.

• Blood pressure measurement: all men
• Cholesterol test: men age 45 and older
• Fasting blood sugar for type 2 diabetes: men whose blood pressure or blood lipids (cholesterol) are high
• Colorectal cancer test: all men over age 50. Some men may need to start colorectal screening earlier if an immediate family member has had colon cancer. Possible tests include sigmoidoscopy or colonoscopy at least every 10 years and a test for rectal blood every year.
• Gonorrhea, syphilis, and HIV tests: men who are at high risk for these infections, including men who have sex with other men or new or more than 1 sex partner, a history of STDs (sexually transmitted diseases), or a partner with an STD
• Tuberculosis (TB) test: men who have a high risk of TB, such as health workers, drug users, immigrants, and men who have close contact with someone infected with TB
• Hearing test: men age 65 and older
• Vision test: men age 65 and older.

Remember, these are the minimum recommendations for routine tests. You and your health care provider must discuss what is right for you based on your symptoms and your personal and family medical history.

The PSA, or prostate specific antigen, test is widely used to look for prostate cancer, but its use as a routine test is controversial. Many studies have been done, but they do not yet show that it is practical to do it on all men at their checkups. The test often gives misleading results and can cause undue anxiety, expense, and unnecessary medical procedures. You should discuss when to start doing this test with your health care provider, especially if you are African-American or have a family history of prostate cancer.

Many other tests are often done at routine checkups, but there is no current evidence that they are helpful as routine screening tests for healthy men. Examples of such tests are a CBC (complete blood count), thyroid tests, and urine tests. When you have no symptoms of illness, you should discuss the pros and cons of these and other tests with your health care provider. Each test involves some expense.

What shots do I need?

The following shots are recommended for adults:

• Tetanus (Td) booster shot once every 5 to 10 years
• Flu shot every fall if you are 50 or older, you have a high risk for complications from the flu, or you might spread the flu to others who are at high risk.
• Measles, mumps, and rubella shot (MMR) if you were born after 1956 unless you have already had the shot or the diseases
• Hepatitis A shot if you are at risk, for example, through travel, the use of street drugs, high-risk sexual activity, or your job, including military service
• Hepatitis B shot for all teens and young adults age 12 to 24 who have not had hepatitis or a hepatitis shot and for all adults who are at risk of infection. This includes, for example, men who have sex with other men or more than 1 sex partner, have a sexually transmitted infection, abuse IV drugs, or plan to travel where hepatitis B is common.
• Pneumococcal pneumonia shot if you are age 65 or older. You may need to get it at a younger age if you have a high-risk medical condition.
• Varicella (chickenpox) if you have never had chickenpox.

What other things I can do to stay healthy?

You should expect your health care provider to advise you regularly on other ways to stay healthy. Some of these may include:

• Substance use: Do not use tobacco or illegal drugs. Avoid using alcohol while driving, swimming, boating, etc.
• Diet and exercise: Try to maintain your weight at a comfortable, healthy level. Limit the fat and cholesterol in your diet. Include a lot of whole grains, fruits, and vegetables in your diet. Get regular physical activity or exercise.
• Injury prevention: Use lap and shoulder belts when you drive. Use a helmet when you ride a motorcycle or bicycle. If you are around guns or other firearms, practice safe handling and make sure to keep them in locked cabinets when they are not in use. Install smoke detectors in your home. Set your hot water heater to less than 120°F (49°C).
• Dental health: Visit your dentist regularly. Brush your teeth with fluoride toothpaste daily. Also floss your teeth daily.
• Sexual behavior: Prevent sexually transmitted infections by avoiding high-risk sexual behavior and by using latex or polyurethane condoms.