There are some health screening tests every man should get – because there’s nothing manly about developing diseases, especially if you have risk factors based on your 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, which is always easier than a repair. So here are 12 important screening tests for men…
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 in a procedure colonoscopy, 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 third of the colon, it adds.