By Tammy Worth
Whether keeping up with the guys on the basketball court, chasing after your young children or traveling during retirement, maintaining your health is important through all the stages of your life. No matter the reason for your wellness journey, prevention should be a major part of it. If you only visit the doctor when you’re sick, you miss the chance to catch early signs of disease and avoid potential health issues. Actions like vaccinations, screenings and small lifestyle changes can have a big impact as you age.
Different times in men’s lives require different kinds of preventive care. Read on to find out how to protect your health so you can be strong, healthy and vibrant at any age for you and your family.
Prevention in your 20s and 30s
This age is the time to establish a relationship with a primary care doctor. If you are moving out on your own — and away from the pediatrician or family doctor — you should find a physician you trust and are comfortable with to keep you healthy.
This is also the time to begin healthy habits and start building blocks for wellness. Your doctor may suggest an annual physical to track your baseline vitals and ensure you aren’t beginning to develop chronic health conditions.
This can be a challenging age as you deal with becoming more independent, starting a family, or beginning your first career. Many mental health conditions are diagnosed by the time people are in their mid-20s. Talk to your doctor if you feel like you may be having unusual anxiety or worry, are using alcohol or other drugs to cope with stress, or you are either sleeping too much or not enough. Your primary care doctor can talk with you about any issues and recommend additional mental health therapy, if needed.
During visits every two to three years, your doctor should test your cholesterol, triglycerides (fat in your blood) and blood pressure. If you have a family history of heart or kidney problems, or if you are diabetic, overweight or obese, your doctor may have you come in for more frequent testing. In your mid-30s, your doctor should begin screening for diabetes, especially if you have a family history of the condition.
The average age for diagnosis of testicular cancer is 33, so you should talk to your doctor about self-screening. This includes checking regularly for abnormal lumps. If you find anything unusual or have testicular pain, talk to your doctor.
At your annual physical, your doctor may talk to you about tobacco and alcohol use, having a healthy diet and getting regular exercise. Other things to discuss with your doctor during this time include:
- Appropriate vaccines
- Any unusual or concerning moles or spots on your skin that could indicate skin cancer
- Regular screening for sexually transmitted infections if you are sexually active, especially if you have new or multiple partners
You should also take an eye exam every two to four years and see your dentist twice a year.
Prevention in your 40s, 50s and 60s
Managing your health in mid-life can seem overwhelming, but your body will thank you later for the care you give it now. This is the time to start having annual physicals because screening for “silent” diseases like high blood pressure, high cholesterol and prediabetes is essential.
Around age 45, you’ll want to start screening for colorectal cancer. You can do this with in-home tests, blood work in your doctor’s office or a colonoscopy. Based on your risk factors, your doctor can tell you which test is best for you.
Men should also start screening for prostate cancer at age 55. This is crucial because, when prostate cancer is caught in the earliest stages there is a 99% five-year survival rate. These screenings entail a digital rectal exam in your doctor’s office or a prostate-specific antigen test (PSA). Depending upon your risk factors (you are at a higher risk if you have a family history of the condition or if you have symptoms like the urge to pee frequently) your doctor can recommend the best screening for you.
If you smoke, or are a former smoker of about a pack a day for 30 years, it is recommended that you begin lung cancer screenings around age 50. Men who are current or former smokers should also be screened for abdominal aortic aneurysms beginning at age 65. This test is an ultrasound that checks for signs of an aneurysm — a weak or bulging blood vessel — in your stomach. Screening is important because male smokers are at higher risk for this condition, which has no symptoms, but can lead to death if an aneurysm ruptures.
You should also continue receiving the vaccines recommended for you at this age which include shingles (after age 50), an annual flu shot, and pneumonia when you are 65 and older.
During this time, you may be part of the “sandwich generation” where you are responsible for children and taking care of aging parents. This might leave you feeling burned out, stressed, overwhelmed or hopeless. If any of these things are impacting you on a regular basis, talk to a friend, family member or your doctor. Most insurance plans cover therapy. If yours doesn’t, or you prefer other types of care, there is an abundance of telehealth and mental health apps that are reasonably priced and easily accessible.
Your health beyond age 70
By age 70, many of the tests you received in the past aren’t necessary anymore. But while you’re enjoying your later years, you shouldn’t avoid the doctor altogether.
In your 70s and beyond, continue seeing any specialists to manage chronic conditions and your primary care provider for annual wellness visits. These visits might include screenings for dementia and Alzheimer’s disease if you have symptoms. This is also a time to pay close attention to your mental health. There is a greater threat of loneliness and social isolation at this age, which can have major impacts on your mental health. Remember that you don’t have to deal with this by yourself; a trusted healthcare provider can help you through this period of life filled with transitions.
Your doctor may also discuss whether prostate and lung cancer screenings are recommended based on your health history. You should continue getting recommended vaccines for men in this age group, which include the flu, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), pneumonia, and COVID-19, if your doctor recommends them.
Establish a relationship with your primary care doctor at a young age so you can be comfortable discussing any healthcare questions and concerns you have. Starting prevention early and keeping up with screenings as you age helps set you up for a long, healthy life. For more information on men’s health and disease prevention, visit kp.org/sandiego.
