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Health screenings for men ages 40 to 64

Definition

You should visit your health care provider regularly, even if you feel healthy. The purpose of these visits is to:

  • Screen for medical issues
  • Assess your risk for future medical problems
  • Encourage a healthy lifestyle
  • Update vaccinations
  • Help you get to know your provider in case of an illness

Screening Tests for Men Quiz

Health screening tests can find which health problems early?

Answer:

The correct answer is all of the above. A health screen is a type of test that checks for health problems before any symptoms occur. It can find many health problems early, when they may be easier to treat. Even if you feel fine, you should see your health care provider regularly to learn about these tests.
Men under age 40 should have their blood pressure checked at least:

Answer:

The correct answer is every year. If you are age 40 or older, or you have risk factors for high blood pressure (such as having blood pressure higher than 130/85, being overweight or obese, or being African American), have it checked every year. You may need blood pressure checks more often if you have diabetes, heart disease, or other health problems. Ask your doctor how often you should have your blood pressure tested.
Starting at age 35, men should have a cholesterol test at least every:

Answer:

The correct answer is every 5 years. If you have diabetes or other risk factors for heart disease, you should start having your cholesterol tested at age 20. If the test shows that you have high cholesterol, your doctor can help you make healthy changes to bring those numbers down.
All men should have a complete eye exam by age:

Answer:

The correct answer is 40. You should have an eye exam sooner if you have vision problems or a family history of glaucoma. Glaucoma damages the nerve that connects the eye to the brain. It is the second most common cause of blindness in the U.S.
Starting at age 50, men should have screening for colon cancer:

Answer:

The correct answer is true. There are several ways to screen for colon cancer including tests of your stool and tests that examine the inside of your colon. You may need this test earlier or more often if you have risk factors for colorectal cancer. After age 75, talk with your doctor about the benefits of having these tests.
Only women need to be screened for osteoporosis.

Answer:

The correct answer is false. Osteoporosis occurs when bones become fragile and can break easily. It's more common in women, but men can get it too. In some men, low testosterone leads to a loss of bone. All men over age 65 should discuss bone density screening with their doctor.
Those who should consider being tested for type 2 diabetes include:

Answer:

The correct answer is any of the above. Your doctor can test you for type 2 diabetes by checking your blood sugar level. You should have the test every three years if you are over 45. Your doctor may start sooner if you are overweight. Ask your doctor if you should have your blood sugar tested.
You may need a hearing test if you have:

Answer:

The correct answer is any of the above. All of these can be signs of hearing loss due to aging. If you notice that you don't hear as well, or have trouble understanding what people say, ask your doctor about scheduling a hearing test.
All men over age 50 should have prostate cancer screenings.

Answer:

The correct answer is false. Not all experts agree about the value of using a PSA or other tests to screen for prostate cancer. Talk to your doctor about whether you should have a PSA test. If you are African-American or have a family history of prostate cancer, talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of PSA tests starting at age 45.
Men ages 65-75 who have smoked may need another test:

Answer:

The correct answer is true. Men ages 65-75 who have a history of smoking may need to be tested for an abdominal aortic aneurysm. This occurs when the vessel that supplies blood to the abdomen, pelvis, and legs becomes swollen. An ultrasound can spot the vessel that may be in danger of bursting.
There is no test to screen for lung cancer.

Answer:

The correct answer is false. Low-dose computed tomography is a test that looks for lung cancer in its early stages. Adults ages 50 to 80 years who currently smoke or have quit within the past 15 years and also have a 20 pack-year smoking history should have this test annually. If you smoke or have smoked in the past, ask your doctor about being screened for lung cancer.

Alternative Names

Health maintenance visit - men - ages 40 to 64; Physical exam - men - ages 40 to 64; Yearly exam - men - ages 40 to 64; Checkup - men - ages 40 to 64; Men's health - ages 40 to 64; Preventive care - men - ages 40 to 64

Information

Even if you feel fine, you should still see your provider for regular checkups. These visits can help you avoid problems in the future. For example, the only way to find out if you have high blood pressure is to have it checked regularly. High blood sugar and high cholesterol level also may not have any symptoms in the early stages. Simple blood tests can check for these conditions.

There are specific times when you should see your provider or receive specific health screenings. The US Preventive Services Task Force publishes a list of recommended screenings. Below are screening guidelines for men ages 40 to 64.

BLOOD PRESSURE SCREENING

Have your blood pressure checked at least once every year. Watch for blood pressure screenings in your area. Ask your provider if you can stop in to have your blood pressure checked.

Ask your doctor if you need your blood pressure checked more often if:

  • You have diabetes, heart disease, kidney problems, or are overweight or have certain other health conditions
  • You have a first-degree relative with high blood pressure
  • You are Black
  • Your blood pressure top number is from 120 to 129 mm Hg, or the bottom number is from 70 to 79 mm Hg

If the top number is 130 mm Hg or greater or the bottom number is 80 mm Hg or greater, this is considered stage 1 hypertension. Schedule an appointment with your provider to learn how you can lower your blood pressure.

Fecal occult blood test
A fecal occult blood test is a noninvasive test that detects the presence of hidden blood in the stool. Blood in the stool that is not visible is often the first, and in many cases the only, warning sign that a person has colorectal disease, including colon cancer.

CHOLESTEROL SCREENING

Cholesterol screening should begin at age 35 for men with no known risk factors for coronary heart disease.

Repeat cholesterol screening should take place:

  • Every 5 years for men with normal cholesterol levels
  • More often if changes occur in lifestyle (including weight gain and diet)
  • More often if you have diabetes, heart disease, kidney problems, or certain other conditions

COLORECTAL CANCER SCREENING

If you are under age 45, talk to your provider about getting screened. You may need to be screened if you have a strong family history of colon cancer or polyps. Screening may also be considered if you have risk factors such as a history of inflammatory bowel disease or polyps.

If you are age 45 to 75, you should be screened for colorectal cancer. There are several screening tests available:

  • A stool-based fecal occult blood (gFOBT) or fecal immunochemical test (FIT) every year
  • A stool sDNA test every 1 to 3 years
  • Flexible sigmoidoscopy every 5 years or every 10 years with stool testing FIT done every year
  • CT colonography (virtual colonoscopy) every 5 years
  • Colonoscopy every 10 years

You may need a colonoscopy more often if you have risk factors for colorectal cancer, such as:

  • Ulcerative colitis
  • A personal or family history of colorectal cancer
  • A history of growths in your colon called adenomatous polyps

DENTAL EXAM

  • Go to the dentist once or twice every year for an exam and cleaning. Your dentist will evaluate if you have a need for more frequent visits.

DIABETES SCREENING

  • All adults who do not have risk factors for diabetes should be screened starting at age 35 and repeated every 3 years.
  • If you have other risk factors for diabetes, such as a first degree relative with diabetes, overweight or obesity, high blood pressure, prediabetes, or a history of heart disease, you may be tested more often.
  • If you are overweight and have other risk factors such as high blood pressure and are planning to become pregnant, screening is recommended.

EYE EXAM

  • Have an eye exam every 2 to 4 years ages 40 to 54 and every 1 to 3 years ages 55 to 64. Your provider may recommend more frequent eye exams if you have vision problems or glaucoma risk.
  • Have an eye exam that includes an examination of your retina (back of your eye) at least every year if you have diabetes.

IMMUNIZATIONS

Commonly needed vaccines include:

  • Flu shot: get one every year
  • Tetanus-diphtheria and acellular pertussis (Tdap) vaccine: have as one of your tetanus-diphtheria vaccines if you did not receive it as an adolescent
  • Tetanus-diphtheria: have a booster (or Tdap) every 10 years
  • Varicella vaccine: receive 2 doses if you never had chickenpox or the varicella vaccine and were born in 1980 or after
  • Hepatitis B vaccine: receive 2, 3, or 4 doses, depending on your exact circumstances, if you did not receive these as a child or adolescent, until age 59
  • Shingles (herpes zoster) vaccine: at or after age 50

Ask your provider if you should receive other immunizations, especially if you have certain medical conditions, such as diabetes or are at increased risk for some diseases such as pneumonia.

INFECTIOUS DISEASE SCREENING

Screening for hepatitis C: all adults ages 18 to 79 should get a one-time test for hepatitis C.

Screening for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV): all people ages 15 to 65 should get a one-time test for HIV.

Depending on your lifestyle and medical history, you may need to be screened for infections such as syphilis, chlamydia, and other infections.

LUNG CANCER SCREENING

You should have an annual screening for lung cancer with low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) if:

  • You are age 50 to 80 years AND
  • You have a 20 pack-year smoking history AND
  • You currently smoke or have quit within the past 15 years

OSTEOPOROSIS SCREENING

  • If you are age 50 to 70 and have risk factors for osteoporosis, you should discuss screening with your provider.
  • Risk factors can include long-term steroid use, low body weight, smoking, heavy alcohol use, having a fracture after age 50, or a family history of hip fracture or osteoporosis.
Fecal occult blood test
A fecal occult blood test is a noninvasive test that detects the presence of hidden blood in the stool. Blood in the stool that is not visible is often the first, and in many cases the only, warning sign that a person has colorectal disease, including colon cancer.

PHYSICAL EXAM

All adults should visit their provider from time to time, even if they are healthy. The purpose of these visits is to:

  • Screen for diseases
  • Assess risk of future medical problems
  • Encourage a healthy lifestyle
  • Update vaccinations
  • Maintain a relationship with a provider in case of an illness

Your height, weight, and body mass index (BMI) should be checked at every exam.

During your exam, your provider may ask you about:

  • Depression and anxiety
  • Diet and exercise
  • Alcohol and tobacco use
  • Safety, such as use of seat belts and smoke detectors

PROSTATE CANCER SCREENING

If you're 55 through 69 years old, before having the test, talk to your provider about the pros and cons of having a PSA test. Ask about:

  • Whether screening decreases your chance of dying from prostate cancer.
  • Whether there is any harm from prostate cancer screening, such as side effects from testing or overtreatment of cancer when discovered.
  • Whether you have a higher risk of prostate cancer than others.

If you are age 55 or younger, screening is not generally recommended. You should talk with your provider about if you have a higher risk for prostate cancer. Risk factors include:

  • Having a family history of prostate cancer (especially a brother or father)
  • Being African American
  • If you choose to be tested, the PSA blood test is repeated over time (yearly or less often), though the best frequency is not known.
  • Prostate examinations are no longer routinely done on men with no symptoms.
Prostate cancer
Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men in the United States. Prostate cancer forms in the prostate gland, and can sometimes be felt on digital rectal examination. This is one of the purposes of the digital rectal exam.

SKIN EXAM

  • Your provider may check your skin for signs of skin cancer, especially if you're at high risk. People at high risk include those who have had skin cancer before, have close relatives with skin cancer, or have a weakened immune system.

TESTICULAR EXAM

  • The US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) now recommends against performing testicular self-exams. Doing testicular self-exams has been shown to have little to no benefit.

Gallery

Prostate cancer
Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men in the United States. Prostate cancer forms in the prostate gland, and can sometimes be felt on digital rectal examination. This is one of the purposes of the digital rectal exam.
Fecal occult blood test
A fecal occult blood test is a noninvasive test that detects the presence of hidden blood in the stool. Blood in the stool that is not visible is often the first, and in many cases the only, warning sign that a person has colorectal disease, including colon cancer.
Fecal occult blood test
A fecal occult blood test is a noninvasive test that detects the presence of hidden blood in the stool. Blood in the stool that is not visible is often the first, and in many cases the only, warning sign that a person has colorectal disease, including colon cancer.
Fecal occult blood test
A fecal occult blood test is a noninvasive test that detects the presence of hidden blood in the stool. Blood in the stool that is not visible is often the first, and in many cases the only, warning sign that a person has colorectal disease, including colon cancer.

References

Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices. Recommended immunization schedule for adults aged 19 years or older, United States, 2022. www.cdc.gov/vaccines/schedules/hcp/imz/adult.html. Updated February 17, 2022. Accessed August 9, 2022.

American Academy of Ophthalmology website. Clinical statement: Frequency of ocular examinations - 2015. www.aao.org/clinical-statement/frequency-of-ocular-examinations. Updated March 2015. Accessed August 9, 2022.

American Dental Association website. Your top 9 questions about going to the dentist - answered. www.mouthhealthy.org/en/dental-care-concerns/questions-about-going-to-the-dentist. Accessed August 9, 2022.

American Diabetes Association Professional Practice Committee. 2. Classification and Diagnosis of Diabetes: Standards of Medical Care in Diabetes-2022. Diabetes Care. 2022 Jan 1;45(Suppl 1):S17-S38. PMID: 34964875 pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34964875/.

Atkins D, Barton M. The periodic health examination. In: Goldman L, Schafer AI, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 26th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 12.

Grundy SM, Stone NJ, Bailey AL, et al. 2018 AHA/ACC/AACVPR/AAPA/ABC/ACPM/ADA/AGS/APhA/ASPC/NLA/PCNA Guideline on the management of blood cholesterol: a report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Task Force on Clinical Practice Guidelines [published correction appears in J Am Coll Cardiol. 2019 Jun 25;73(24):3237-3241]. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2019;73(24):e285-e350. PMID: 30423393 pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30423393/.

Meschia JF, Bushnell C, Boden-Albala B, et al. Guidelines for the primary prevention of stroke: a statement for healthcare professionals from the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association. Stroke. 2014;45(12):3754-3832. PMID: 25355838 pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25355838/.

Mora S, Libby P, Ridker PM. Primary prevention of cardiovascular disease. In: Libby P, Bonow RO, Mann DL, Tomaselli GF, Bhatt DL, Solomon SD, eds. Braunwald's Heart Disease: A Textbook of Cardiovascular Medicine. 12th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2022:chap 25.

US Preventive Services Task Force website. A and B recommendations. www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/uspstf/recommendation-topics/uspstf-a-and-b-recommendations. Accessed August 9, 2022.

US Preventive Services Task Force website. Final recommendation statement. Colorectal cancer: Screening. www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/uspstf/recommendation/colorectal-cancer-screening. Published May 18, 2021. Accessed August 9, 2022.

US Preventive Services Task Force website. Final recommendation statement. Hepatitis C virus infection in adolescents and adults: Screening. www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/uspstf/recommendation/hepatitis-c-screening. Published March 2, 2020. Accessed August 9, 2022.

US Preventive Services Task Force website. Final recommendation statement. Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection: Screening. www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/uspstf/recommendation/human-immunodeficiency-virus-hiv-infection-screening. Published June 11, 2019. Accessed August 9, 2022.

US Preventive Services Task Force website. Hypertension in adults: Screening. www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/uspstf/recommendation/hypertension-in-adults-screening. Published April 27, 2021. Accessed August 9, 2022.

US Preventive Services Task Force website. Final recommendation statement: Lung cancer: Screening. Updated March 9, 2021. www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/uspstf/recommendation/lung-cancer-screening. Accessed August 9, 2022.

US Preventive Services Task Force website. Final recommendation statement: Osteoporosis to prevent fracture: Screening. Updated June 26, 2018. www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/uspstf/recommendation/osteoporosis-screening. Accessed August 9, 2022.

US Preventive Services Task Force website. Prediabetes and type 2 diabetes: Screening. www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/uspstf/recommendation/screening-for-prediabetes-and-type-2-diabetes. Published August 24, 2021. Accessed August 9, 2022.

US Preventive Services Task Force website. Final recommendation statement. Prostate cancer: Screening. www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/uspstf/recommendation/prostate-cancer-screening. Published May 8, 2018. Accessed August 9, 2022.

US Preventive Services Task Force website. Skin cancer: Screening. www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/uspstf/draft-update-summary/skin-cancer-screening-1. Updated March 19, 2021. Accessed August 9, 2022.

US Preventive Services Task Force website. Testicular cancer: Screening. www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/uspstf/recommendation/testicular-cancer-screening. Published April 15, 2011. Accessed August 9, 2022.

Whelton PK, Carey RM, Aronow WS, et al. 2017 ACC/AHA/AAPA/ABC/ACPM/AGS/APhA/ASH/ASPC/NMA/PCNA Guideline for the prevention, detection, evaluation, and management of high blood pressure in adults: a report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Task Force on Clinical Practice Guidelines [published correction appears in J Am Coll Cardiol. 2018 May 15;71(19):2275-2279]. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2018;71(19):e127-e248. PMID: 29146535 pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29146535/.

Last reviewed April 30, 2022 by David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team..

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