Undergoing screening tests at the right time is essential to a man's health. These tests could detect illnesses early that could aid in prompt and easy treatment. These tests are simple yet potentially life-saving and men should discuss their options with their health care practitioners. Generally, the most common tests used to detect illnesses are blood pressure test, lipid panel, blood glucose test, colonoscopy, prostate specific antigen test, and testicular exam.
Dr. Steven Lamm, medical director at the Center for Men's Health at NYU Langone Medical Center told CBS News that men should take charge of their health. "You need to personalize the testing based on the patient's personal history, family history and their own concerns," he explained.
The American Heart Association is recommending that men should have their blood pressure taken at least once a year starting at age 20. Both men and women should be conscious when it comes to their blood pressure. The normal reading is 90-120 for systolic blood pressure and 60-80 for diastolic pressure. Abnormal readings in blood pressure could signal cardiovascular disease, kidney disease or even stroke.
Checking for lipid profile or panel is also essential for men. Triglyceride and cholesterol levels should be kept at a normal range in order to prevent the occurrence of diseases. Low density lipoproteins are deemed as the bad cholesterol and they are the ones who stick to the arterial walls. Uncontrolled lipid levels could lead to serious cardiovascular diseases such as heart attack and stroke.
Diabetes mellitus is a common disease among men. Random blood sugar tests or fasting blood sugar tests are important to detect early onset of diabetes. This could help in the treatment and prevention of diabetec ketoacidosis, a fatal complication of raised blood sugar in the body.
Colon cancer is also a common type of cancer in men. Routine colon cancer screening or colonoscopy should be done beginning at age 50 and it is done every year.
Prostate specific antigen test and testicular exam are the two most important tests for men. "The most common prostate cancer screening test is the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test," Spencer Ashton, a radiation oncologist at both Valley View and Dixie Regional cancer centers told The Spectrum.
"While there are varying recommendations, the general guideline is that men that are at higher-risk for prostate cancer begin checking their PSA baseline at age 45. Men at average risk should be tested at age 50."
Lastly, testicular examination should be routinely done every year.
