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Men prefer going to work, nurturing their relationships, and accumulating fortune over caring for their health. In fact, nearly 26% of American men do not follow regular checkups.
Whether it’s a negative notion towards hospitals or a lack of time, it’s not uncommon for many men to fall under this line of thinking: “If I feel fine, I don’t need to get checked by the doctor.”
However, as the popular saying goes, health is wealth. Continuously pushing one’s health aside can leave the body susceptible to conditions and illnesses that could turn all amassed fortune, plus more, into steep hospital bills.
Conversely, if we take proper care of our bodies, the chances of these adverse events could be minimized and there’d be greater possibilities for a healthier, longer life.
So you may be wondering, how do I start living more healthily?
There are many ways to take these steps, none of them too invasive or costly. One excellent way forward is by getting regular critical health screenings and tests.
Frequent health scans and tests can help you detect diseases and disorders, particularly those in the early stages or the ones that may not manifest symptoms.
Standard health tests are often prescribed by many doctors, each looking into various aspects of a man’s overall health. To start, here’s a rundown of five critical health screening tests that every man needs.
1. Blood Pressure Test
Your heart is one of the most vital organs in the body.
While there are many more in-depth ways to study a heart’s morphology, such as a 3D echocardiogram and a transesophageal echocardiography test, the reliable and widely-available BP monitor serves as a reliable jump-off point to determine the heart’s strength.
High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, is a silent killer that can lead to life-threatening conditions like stroke, kidney disease, and heart disease. It may also cause erectile dysfunction, putting a halt to a man’s sexual life.
A blood pressure test combats this by helping doctors identify your propensity to unwanted heart-related conditions. For reference, normal blood pressure is not more than 120/80 mm Hg, and any figure above that can result in pre-hypertension or hypertension. Hypotension is the outcome when the figure falls sharply below that range.
It’s important to contact the doctor in case of high blood pressure, as clinical practice guidelines state that abnormal blood pressure screenings can be an indicator of cardiovascular disease.
So, the next time you visit your doctor, don’t forget to roll up your sleeve for a blood pressure screening. They may be able to prescribe you some heart medications as soon as you get your blood pressure checked.
2. Cholesterol Screening
Cholesterol is a fatty substance that circulates throughout your body, both in the bloodstream and within cells. The body needs a healthy balance of cholesterol and other fluids to function at its most optimal state.
If the body’s cholesterol levels are too high, hyperlipidemia can occur, which leads to a buildup in the artery walls and an increased risk of heart disease.
A cholesterol screening can help identify the number of triglycerides, good cholesterol (HDL), and bad cholesterol (LDL) in your blood.
To measure these values, your physician will take a small blood sample from your arm. The ideal cholesterol value should fall somewhere between 150 ng/dL to 200 ng/dL.
3. Colon Cancer Screening
Colorectal cancer is one of the world’s deadliest cancers, taking over 700,000 people per year. And one of the main risk factors for colon cancer is age.
Past one’s 50s, the risk of colon cancer develops at a rapid pace. Combine that with a family history of the disease and a sedentary lifestyle, and the risk rises meteorically.
Fortunately, colon cancer screening may be used to identify any abnormalities in the colon and rectum.
Identifying colon cancer in the early stages can lower the mortality rate by 50%.
There’s more than one physical exam for determining the colon health, with a few being:
- Fecal occult blood test (FOBT)
- Fecal DNA test
- Colonoscopy
- Digital rectal exam
- CT colonography
Among these tests, a colonoscopy, which uses a long flexible tube with a tiny camera, is considered the best screening method for screening for polyps and abnormal growth within the rectum.
4. Diabetes Test
According to the American Diabetes Association, diabetes affects over 37 million people in the US, making it one of the nation’s most prevalent diseases. And since many cases of early-stage diabetes mellitus are silent, diabetes tests are widely available to help the public get a clear image of their blood sugar or glucose levels.
While screening for type-1 diabetes is still in its infancy, fasting blood sugar testing, hemoglobin, glucose tolerance testing, or random plasma sugar testing can be used to detect type-2 diabetes.
At 45, men are recommended to get tested for diabetes at least every 3 years. However, overweight men and those with HBP are encouraged to have more tests.
Speak to your doctor for the best-suited tests, and continue checking regularly.
5. Prostate Cancer Screening
Prostate cancer is one of the most frequently diagnosed cancers and the fifth leading cause of male cancer-related deaths worldwide, accounting for nearly 400,000 deaths annually.
Fortunately, most prostate cancers tend to grow slowly and are low-grade with relatively low risk and limited aggressiveness.
Risk factors for prostate cancer include:
- Male gender
- Aging
- Obesity
- Hypertension
- Lack of exercise
- Persistent higher testosterone levels
Screening for prostate cancer can be done in two ways: a prostate-specific antigen testing (PSA) or a transrectal ultrasound-guided (TRUS) prostate tissue biopsy.
For most men, prostate cancer testing is recommended every year, so don’t hesitate to contact a local sexual health professional for a prostate screening.
Tampa’s Leading Men’s Clinic Can Provide Medical Guidance to Combat Sexual Health Issues
Health risks often lurk under the shadows, making their grand appearance during times when we least expect them. So, gentlemen, don’t wait for a crisis to hit before you take action.
By staying on top of these essential screenings and tests, you can minimize your risk of getting afflicted by these diseases early on in life.
Additionally, good lifestyle choices such as plenty of exercises, a good diet, and sleeping regularly can all play a part in ensuring you’ll be in top shape well into your senior years.
If you’re having sexual health issues, such as erectile dysfunction (ED) or premature ejaculation (PE), contact Prestige Men’s Medical Center in Tampa now to schedule an appointment to have a consultation and testing with their experienced and specially trained medical staff. We are one of Florida’s leading men’s clinics providing ED therapy, PE therapy, Low Testosterone therapy, RestoreWave therapy, hormone therapy, and much more.
