Periodic Health Checkups for Men

Your doctor will recommend that you have a physical examination and certain screening tests periodically, depending on your age and health history. The following material indicates the most common tests ordered for men.

Eye Examination
To check for any vision problems such as near- or farsightedness or eye muscle disorders and to look for any early signs of disease.

Those at risk: Men who have diabetes, high blood pressure, or a family history of glaucoma.

Dental Examination
To check for tooth decay, gum disease, and early signs of oral cancer.

Those at risk: Men who smoke or chew tobacco; men with poor oral hygiene.

Blood Pressure Measurement
To detect high blood pressure early, before it leads to stroke, heart failure, or kidney failure.

Those at risk: Men with a family history of high blood pressure, heart disease, kidney disease, or stroke; men who are overweight or have diabetes; men who smoke or use tobacco products.

Cholesterol Test
To measure the blood levels of cholesterol, which helps evaluate the risk of heart disease.

Those at risk: Men with a family history of heart disease; men who have diabetes; men who smoke or use tobacco products.

Colon and Rectum Examination
To look for signs of cancer of the colon, rectum, and prostate. Includes rectal examination performed by hand by a doctor, fecal occult blood test that checks for blood in the stool, sigmoidoscopy, and possibly a PSA (prostatespecific antigen) test.

Those at risk: Men with a family history of colon or rectal cancer; men who have intestinal polyps or ulcerative colitis; men over age 50. African American men have an increased risk of prostate cancer.

Comprehensive Physical Examination
To regularly assess your current health status and to maintain an ongoing relationship with your doctor. Be sure to see your doctor as often as he or she recommends.

Click images below to enlarge