June 14 - June 20th is  National Men’s Health Week.  The purpose of Men's Health Week is to heighten the awareness of preventable health problems and encourage early detection and treatment of disease and injury among men and boys.

Remember your checkup and help spread the word . . . Remind a friend to have their checkup today!

Routine checkups can find treatable problems early and help prevent more serious problems. The type of checkup and how often depends mainly on age. 

What needs to be checked and how often?

The tests listed below are the minimum checkup recommendations. Be sure to talk with your Primary Care Provider (PCP) to find out what is right for you based on your personal and family medical history.

• Blood pressure: all men.
• Cholesterol test: if you are age 45 or older. You may start having this test at an earlier age if you have a family history of high cholesterol. 
• Fasting blood sugar for type 2 diabetes: if your blood pressure, cholesterol, or weight are high, or if you have a family history of type 2 diabetes. 
• Colorectal cancer test: if you are 50 or older. You may need to start colorectal cancer screening earlier if someone in your immediate family has had colon cancer.
• Prostate cancer tests: The current recommendations are that men age 75 and older should not be screened for prostate cancer. Younger men should discuss the benefits and harms of the PSA test with their healthcare provider before being tested. 
• Gonorrhea and syphilis tests: if you are at high risk for these infections. 
• HIV test for the AIDS virus: if you are 13 to 65. 
• Tuberculosis (TB) test: if you have a high risk of TB.
• Hearing test: if you are 65 or older. 
• Vision test: if you are 65 or older.

What other things I can do to stay healthy?

• Do not use tobacco or illegal drugs.
• Diet and exercise: Try to keep your weight at a comfortable, healthy level. Limit the fat and cholesterol in your diet. Eat a lot of whole grains, fruits, and vegetables. Get regular exercise.  
• Visit your dentist regularly. Brush your teeth with fluoride toothpaste daily. Also floss your teeth daily. 
• Prevent sexually transmitted infections by avoiding high-risk sexual behavior.

Information adapted from RelayHealth, 2009