Preventative Health Tests for Men
Talk to your doctor about which tests you should take.
June 17, 2010 -- On "Good Morning America" today, Dr. Richard Besser described recommended preventative tests for men to maintain their health. For more information on these tests, click on the links below and then visit the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality's Healthy Men webpage.
BODY MASS INDEX (BMI) A BMI tests measures your body fat based on your height and weight.
CHOLESTEROL Cholesterol tests are blood tests used to detect the total amount of fat in your blood.
BLOOD PRESSUREYour doctor should check your blood pressure at least once every two years, or more depending on your risk. After learning your numbers, your doctor may recommend a few lifestyle changes to help maintain a healthy blood pressure and lower your health risks.
DIGITAL RECTAL EXAM A digital rectal exam is done to check for problems with organs typically below your stomach.
SKIN CHECK Many dermatologists recommend doing a self skin check monthly, so you can notice any changes in your skin.
SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED DISEASES Testing for sexually transmitted diseases is done in many different ways. Depending on your risk and sexual behavior, your doctor may recommend that you are screened.
HIV SCREENING Reasons your doctor may recommend screening for HIV include if you have sex with men, had unprotected sex with multiple partners, are being treated for sexually transmitted diseases, or if you have ever used injectable drugs.
DEPRESSION If you have felt "down" or hopeless during the past two weeks or you have had little interest in doing things you usually enjoy, talk to your doctor about depression. Depression is a treatable illness.
ABDOMINAL AORTIC ANEURYSM SCREENING Doctors may recommend ultrasonography in men aged 65 to 75 who have ever smoked.
PROSTATE SPECIFIC ANTIGEN (PSA) TEST A PSA test checks for levels of protein in prostate cells. A high level of protein in the blood may be a sign of prostate cancer.