Thursday, January 8, 2015

When Should You Get A Men's Health Exam

One of the more frequently asked questions I am asked is how often men should consider getting a men's health exam.

As a man ages there are different mens health issues that present for different age groups.

For younger men the risks of testicular cancer are much higher than older males however older men have higher risk of prostate cancer then young men.

For this reason I recommend all men consider having focused mens health check-ups every 1-2 years.

For men in their late teens to 30's it's vital to be sure to cover areas such as testicular cancer, depression, anxiety and risks of substance misuse. This is also a fantastic opportunity to start preventative strategies to help prevent other health issues that can come later in life.

When a man enters his 40's it's ideal to review testosterone levels, risk factors for heart disease as well as again discussing things like smoking, exercise levels, weight and mood issues.

In the 50's we again keep a keen focus on cardiovascular health. The risk of bowel cancers also increases later in life so it's time to discuss whether it's worth having a colonoscopy to detect and also help prevent bowel cancers.

The 50's is also a great time to start discussions about prostate health.

From the age of 60 men's health exams tend to focus on diseases such as prostate cancer, prostate enlargement, mood disorders such as depression, heart disease and stroke. This is also a time that wear and tear on bones and joints may start to present with early osteoarthritis.

As you can see as a man ages there are changes in both the diseases that present. By starting to have regular mens' health checkups every 1-2 years there is much that can be done to help prevent disease, illness and disability as a man goes though his life.

For this reason I recommend having a good GP or family practitioner to help ensure you have the best check up and maintenance regime designed for you.

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