Many men would rather take their car in for a tuneup than go in for their own health checkup. Studies show men tend to put off going to the doctor. On average, they live sicker and die younger than women, who make twice as many preventive care visits as men.
More than half of premature deaths among men are preventable, but you can’t prevent a problem if you don’t know it exists. As the saying goes, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”
Here are recommended screenings for men:
- Cholesterol — Every five years
- Blood pressure — Every two years
- Colorectal cancer — Starting at age 50, or at any age if you have bleeding from your rectum or blood in your stools. Talk with your health-care provider about how often you should be tested.
- Sexually transmitted diseases — If you are sexually active, get regular checkups.
Don’t forget about keeping immunizations up-to-date, too. You should have a tetanus booster every 10 years.
Sources: Men’s Health Network; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
