In addition to the celebration of Father's Day, June has always been a month for dads and men in general -- think barbeques, Bermuda shorts and dad in the yard trying to get that lawn just right.
This month, let's help the men in our lives take an annual inventory of their health. Whether you're a dad, a granddad or just a busy guy, here are the top 10 health checks every man should complete each year:
1. Height, weight and BMI: Experts now believe that cardiac health is impacted by even small increases above your ideal weight.
2. Blood Pressure: If your blood pressure is more than 140 (top number) or 90 (bottom number), you should schedule an appointment with your primary care provider.
3. Cholesterol: Any man with risk factors for heart disease (family history, diabetes, kidney disease) should with his provider about goals.
4. Prostate screening:In general, men ages 50 or older should discuss the appropriate level of screening for prostate cancer with their doctor. African-American men and those with a family history or prostate cancer should discuss screening at age 45.
5. Lung cancer screening: Men ages 55 to 80 with a family history of lung cancer, or who have smoked for a number of years, should talk to their provider about a CT scan of the lungs.
6. Blood sugar and diabetes: Men should have a fasting blood glucose test at least every three years starting at age 45 -- more often if they are overweight or have high blood pressure.
7. Bone density: Men ages 50 to 70 with risk factors such as long-term steroid, tobacco or alcohol use should be screened routinely for possible osteoporosis and overall bone health.
8. Colonoscopy: Screening for colon cancer for most men starts at age 50. If testing reveals no abnormalities, it will typically only need to be redone every five or 10 years.
9. Skin checks: Approximately 10,000 people each year die from melanoma, and two-thirds of those deaths are men. Add an annual skin check to your health inventory.
10. Eye health: Eye health and vision problems are often key indicators of other health problems. Have your eye health and vision checked annually.
Because these tests are considered preventive, most will be covered by insurance plans at least once per year. However, there may be certain criteria you have to meet, so check with your insurance company before making the necessary appointments.
General News on 06/22/2016