Men's Health

Man Up For These Essential Screening Tests

Jeff Hayward

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There are some health screening tests every man should do – because there’s nothing manly about developing diseases, especially if you have risk factors based on lifestyle or family history.

Screening is designed to catch health problems before they develop into a bigger problem, and in many cases, you’ll have no idea there’s trouble brewing until you’re sick enough to see a doctor. Think of this as similar to preventative maintenance on your truck… always easier than a repair. So here are 12 important screening tests for men…

1. Colon Check

No one likes the thought of having a tube inserted into their colon, but the alternative – namely colorectal cancer – is much, much worse. WebMD notes that screening for colorectal cancer begins at age 50 for “average-risk” adults.

Using a flexible tube equipped with a camera, a doctor can examine the entire length of the colon and search for abnormal growths called polyps – which can also be removed at the same time, notes the source. There’s a slightly less intensive version called a flexible sigmoidoscopy that only detects problems in the lower part of the colon, it adds.

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A little more about the flexible sigmoidoscopy – MedicineNet.com explains the tube is about 60-centimeters (about 24-inches) in length, and the “thickness of your little finger.” It’s slowly inserted into the anus and generally used to find the cause of rectal bleeding or change in bowel habits, adds the source.

The procedure is quick – as fast as 5-minutes – and there’s usually minimal discomfort involved. You’ll be awake during the procedure and carry on with your day almost immediately afterwards, whereas with a colonoscopy it’s generally recommended to have a ride due to sedation.

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3. The Eyes Have It

Glaucoma is a condition that affects the eyes of many men, especially as they progress in age. There are different types of glaucoma, but generally it relates to higher pressure in the eye that causes damage to the optic nerve – and it doesn’t present any early symptoms, says AllAboutVision.com.

An eye doctor can screen for signs of glaucoma during routine eye exams, using an instrument called a tonometer that measures the pressure within your eyeball, it notes. In many cases, a puff of air is used to measure the pressure, while another method uses numbing eye drops and a probe that rests gently against the surface of your eye, explains the source.

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4. Don’t Ignore the Prostate

The prostate gland is specific to men (although women have the Skene’s gland which produces the same protein markers as the male prostate), and therefore problems associated with the prostate are also specific to men. In fact, prostate cancer is the leading cancer in males.

There’s a screening test for this form of cancer called the Prostate-specific antigen or PSA, which measures the levels of this antigen in men’s blood, explains the National Cancer Institute. Elevated levels can be associated with cancer of the prostate, it adds, and this test can also monitor the progression of the disease. This is not the only method of detecting prostate cancer, as we’ll get to next.

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5. Digital Detection

Unfortunately, as the name may suggest, a Digital Rectal Exam isn’t an electronic scan to test for prostate cancer. It refers to a digit – more specifically, your doctor’s gloved finger – to feel around for any abnormalities.

WebMD calls it a “relatively simple” screening test to test for cancer, because the prostate is located at the front of your rectum. Your doctor will search for hard or lumpy areas that aren’t normal, and you may experience some slight discomfort during the procedure. However, it won’t interfere with your day. While age 50 is generally when prostate screening discussions begin, interestingly not all medical institutions are in agreement that a digital exam is necessary, it adds.

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6. Take a Deep Breath

While prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in men, lung cancer is the deadliest among males, and smoking is a big reason for this, notes WebMD. If you’ve been smoking for a long time (the equivalent of a pack a day for 30-years), or you quit cigarettes within the past 15-years, this is a screening test you should definitely get.

Doctors will perform a LDCT (low-dose computed tomography) scan, which is a fancy way to say an X-ray of your lungs, it adds. During the test, you’ll have to raise your arms over your head and hold your breath for up to 10-seconds, but other than that it’s pretty simple. Talk to your doctor about getting these scans beginning at age 55, even if you don’t smoke.

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7. Beyond the Surface

Men’s Health says that men (and women) should consider getting an annual skin cancer exam, thanks to the depletion of the earth’s ozone layer that once protected people more from dangerous UVB sunrays.

This is not a disease that’s exclusive to older adults – sun-worshipping people in their teens, 20s and 30s should be checked, as stats show that skin cancer is the leading cause of disease-related death for Americans under age 40, notes the source. A skin doctor will look for any abnormalities and use a biopsy to examine tissue if necessary.

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8. Testing the Testis

The testicles are also exclusive to men, and are quite prone to cancer as well. The National Cancer Institute says there’s actually no standard or routine screening test for early detection of this form of cancer, but warning signs can be found through self-exams or a doctor-led physical exam.

The telltale sign of testicular cancer is a lump, which can be checked for cancer cells. Testicular cancer “can usually be cured at any stage,” but finding it early can make it easier to treat and prevent it from spreading to other parts of the body, it adds.

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9. Get Pressured into Screening

High blood pressure or hypertension is a problem that plagues many men in the U.S., but it usually has little or no signs at all until a health episode like a heart attack or stroke – giving it the “silent killer” nickname.

Luckily, checking your blood pressure is a pretty simple and quick test, which you can start at age 20 (for every 2-years) if the reading is lower than 120/80 mm Hg, says the American Heart Association. If your pressure is higher, then you should get it checked more regularly, it adds. Lifestyle changes (diet and exercise) as well as some medications can help keep it under control, it adds.

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10. Cholesterol Checks

The same source explains that a Fasting Lipoprotein Profile can screen for LDL or “bad” cholesterol (while also measuring how much HDL or “good” cholesterol) you have in your blood. Unhealthy levels of cholesterol can cause plaque buildup in arteries that leads to complications.

The source says you can start getting this test at age 20, and then every 4 to 6-years following the initial screening – unless it’s determined you’re at higher risk, which means more frequent checks. “Like high blood pressure, often cholesterol can be controlled through lifestyle changes and/or medication,” it adds.

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11. Detecting Diabetes

This is another disease that affects many men in the U.S., and it’s among the leading killers in the country. MedicinePlus.gov says you should be screened for Type 2 diabetes every 3-years starting at age 45.

The source says is your blood pressure is above 135/80 mm Hg, or you “have other risk factors for diabetes,” then your doctor might want to check your blood sugar levels. Obesity is a big risk factor – so if you’re overweight, talk with your doctor about being screened earlier than age 45. Meanwhile, Asian Americans should be screened if their BMI is 23 or higher, it adds.

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12. HIV Checks

If you have Human Immunodeficiency Virus (otherwise known as HIV), you may not have any symptoms at all and unwittingly pass it on to others through sexual contact or broken skin, explains WebMD. HIV can develop into full-blown deadly AIDS.

While there’s no cure or vaccine for HIV, getting screened can help you get treatments to keep it at bay (and arm you with the knowledge that you have it). The source says the initial test is called an ELISA or EIA, which looks for related antibodies in the blood. “It’s possible not to be infected and still show positive on the test,” it notes, so another test called a Western blot assay may be required for a diagnosis. Tests may show all clear if you were just recently infected, it adds.