Healthy Living
Men’s Health Maintenance Checklist
Most men make it a priority to maintain their car, their house and their lawn, but they often don’t do the same for their health. If you happen to be one who puts your health on the back burner, it may be time to shift your priorities and focus on yourself.
As a man, it’s easy to feel like you’re still as healthy as you were in your 20s, but once you hit your 30s — and especially your 40s and beyond — it’s important to pay attention to your body and be proactive about maintaining your health.
Here’s a practical checklist for you to help maintain your health:
- Check your blood pressure
Even if you’re in your 20s, you should have your blood pressure checked at least once every two years. Men 40 or older should get it checked at least once a year.
Ideally, you want the top number (systolic) to be less than 120 and the bottom number (diastolic) to be less than 80. If the top number is greater than 140 or the bottom number is greater than 90, schedule an appointment with your doctor.
- Check your cholesterol
Men should begin cholesterol screening between the ages of 20 and 35. It is recommended to get a screening every 5 years for younger adults, and every 1 to 2 years for men aged 45 to 65. Men over 65 should be screened annually.
If you have high cholesterol, diabetes, heart disease, kidney disease or certain other conditions, you’ll need to have it checked more often.
- Screen for diabetes
If your blood pressure is 140/80 mm Hg or higher, your doctor may test your blood sugar level for diabetes. If you have a body mass index (BMI) greater than 25 and other risk factors for diabetes, you should be screened.
If you have other risk factors, like a first-degree relative with diabetes or a history of heart disease, your doctor will likely screen you for diabetes. If you are 45 or older and in good health, you should be screened every three years.
- Colorectal/colon cancer screening
You should get screened for colorectal cancer if you are aged 45 to 75. Several screening test options available to choose from include:
- A fecal occult blood (stool-based) test done every year
- A fecal immunochemical test (FIT) every year
- A stool DNA test every three years
- Flexible sigmoidoscopy every five years
- Double contrast barium enema every five years
- CT colonography (virtual colonoscopy) every five years
- Colonoscopy every 10 years
You may need a colonoscopy more often if you have risk factors like:
- A personal or family history of colorectal cancer
- Adenomatous polyps
- Genetic syndromes like FAP or Lynch syndrome
- A history of abdominal or pelvic radiation
- Check for lung cancer
Men between the ages of 50 and 80 who have a history of smoking equal to 20 pack-years should now get a yearly lung cancer screening using low-dose computed tomography (LDCT). This recommendation may apply whether they currently smoke or quit at any time in the past—there is no longer a 15-year limit since quitting. A “20 pack-year” history means smoking one pack a day for 20 years, two packs a day for 10 years or any other combination that adds up to 20 pack-years.
- Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) screening
If you are between ages 65 and 75 and have smoked, you should have an ultrasound to screen for abdominal aortic aneurysms. Men who have not smoked should discuss this screening with their doctor.
If you’re diagnosed with a small AAA (3–5.4 cm), follow-up imaging is needed:
- 0–3.9 cm – every 3 years
- 0–4.9 cm – every year
- 0–5.4 cm – every 6 months
