Medical
screening tests are a great way to keep on top of your health. Think of them as
basic maintenance, just like checking the oil and tire pressure to keep your
car safe on the highway. To keep it simple, we've compiled a list of the most
important medical tests every man should have along with what age to start
and how often to repeat. Here's to routine maintenance for your health.
1.
Cholesterol screening/lipoprotein profile
Cholesterol
is a type of fatty protein in your blood that can build up in your arteries, so
knowing how much cholesterol is present is a good predictor of your risk for
heart disease. There are two kinds of cholesterol: HDL, or high-density
lipoproteins, and LDL, or low-density lipoproteins. Confusingly enough, HDL is
"good" and protects against heart disease, while LDL is
"bad" and poses a risk to your heart.
Your
total cholesterol reading combines the measures of both and is used as an
overall reading; 220 is the magic number that you want to stay beneath. In
addition, the profile measures triglycerides, which are fats in the blood that
can also block arteries; you want them below 150 milligrams per deciliter.
What
it is: A blood test for cholesterol, measured in milligrams per deciliter of
blood (mg/dl); usually measures triglycerides at the same time
When
to start: Age 20
How
often: Every five years. If testing reveals your levels are high, your doctor
will recommend retesting every six months to one year. If you have risk factors
for heart disease in your family, the regular cholesterol test may not be
specific enough; ask your doctor for an additional test called the lipoprotein
subfraction test. It's more sensitive and checks the size of the cholesterol
particles as well as the amount.
2.
Blood pressure check
It
seems simple, but checking your blood pressure regularly is one of the most
important things you can do to protect your present and future health. One in
every five adults, totaling 50 million people, has elevated blood pressure,
also known as hypertension. When your blood pressure readings are higher than
the cutoff of 140/90, it puts stress on your heart, leaving you at risk for
heart attack and stroke. Many experts believe 120/80 is a healthier target to
shoot for.
What
it is: A physical reading using an arm cuff
When
to start: Any age; best to begin during childhood
How
often: Once a year if readings are normal; your doctor will recommend every six
months if readings are high or if you're taking medication to control
hypertension.
3.
Diabetes screening
To
check your risk for diabetes, doctors check your tolerance for glucose
absorption, which means how readily your body digests sugar.
What
it is: A blood draw performed after drinking a sugary drink; a fasting glucose
tolerance test requires you not to eat for nine hours prior to the test.
When
to start: At age 45 if you have no risk factors or symptoms. If you're
significantly overweight, have high blood pressure, or have other risk factors
for diabetes, such as family history of the disease, it's a good idea to get
tested younger. If your insurance doesn't cover it, free testing is available
at most major chain drugstores.
How
often: Every three years.
4.
Bone density test
The
loss of bone strength, called osteoporosis, afflicts nearly 10 million people
every year, according to the National Osteoporosis Foundation. Surveys show
that men see osteoporosis as a "woman's disease," but this is a
misconception. After age 50, 6 percent of all men will break a hip and 5
percent will have a vertebral fracture as a result of osteoporosis. As we age,
minerals such as calcium begin to leach from bones, weakening them and leading
to osteoporosis, which literally means "porous bone."
What
it is: A specialized X-ray called a DXA (dual-energy X-ray) screens your spine,
hips, and wrists as you lie on a table.
When
to start: At age 65, everyone should have a DXA. But men who have risk factors
for bone loss, such as being thin, taking corticosteroids, or having a history
of fractures, should talk to their doctor about being screened now.
5.
Vitamin D test
Recently,
doctors have realized that vitamin D is a key nutrient that helps maintain
strong bones and protect against cancer, infection, and other health
conditions. For example, a study last year found that men with low levels of
vitamin D had a higher incidence of heart attack. Most men have no idea if
they're D-deficient or not, though a simple blood test can tell. If you live in
a northern climate, work indoors, or don't drink a lot of milk, chances are
your vitamin D level is low. If so, your doctor will recommend taking a vitamin
D supplement.
What
it is: A blood test, often done along with the cholesterol and lipid panel, to
check the level of vitamin D in your blood. You want your reading to be between
30 and 80 nanograms per milliliter, though some experts argue that 50 nanograms
should be the lowest level considered normal. Many experts recommend the
25(OH)D3 test as providing the more accurate measurement.
When
to start: Age 40; sooner if you have signs or risk factors for osteoporosis. As
we age, our bodies become less efficient at synthesizing vitamin D from the
sun, so after the age of 40 it's more likely that you'll become D-deficient.
Also, if you have any signs of low bone density, such as a fracture, your
doctor will want to test your vitamin D along with your bone density.
How
often: Although vitamin D testing isn't yet required or listed on the official
schedule of recommended tests, more and more doctors are recommending it as an
annual test after age 45.
6.
Colonoscopy or sigmoidoscopy
Colorectal
cancer, which is cancer of the lower part of the intestines, is curable in 90
percent of all cases -- as long as it's caught early. And screening tests that
look inside the colon, called colonoscopy and flexible sigmoidoscopy, are the
secret to catching it early.
Unfortunately,
this still isn't happening as often as it should. Currently, 39 percent of
cases are already stage III or IV when discovered. This test is considered so
lifesaving that news anchor Katie Couric allowed hers to be presented on live
TV as an educational campaign to raise awareness after her husband died of
colorectal cancer. Colorectal cancer is the third leading cause of death from
cancer for men, after lung and prostate cancer, so it's important to take it
seriously.
What
it is: An examination of your colon using a tiny scope and camera, which are
inserted through the rectum. A colonoscopy can see the whole colon, while a
sigmoidoscopy can see only the sigmoid, or lower section of the colon.
When
to start: Age 50 for those with no risk factors. If, however, you have a
first-degree family member who's had colon cancer before the age of 50, begin
colonoscopy screening when you're ten years younger than the age at which your
family member was diagnosed. If a family member was diagnosed at 45, for
example, you should have your first screening at 35.
How
often: Flexible sigmoidoscopies should be repeated every five years, and a
colonoscopy should be repeated every ten years. A computerized imaging technique
called virtual colonoscopy is gaining popularity at some medical centers, but
many doctors still consider it experimental and some insurers, including
Medicare, don't cover it
