Health screenings might not sound like a lot of fun, and they can be hard to get around to, especially if you’re busy and you don’t feel unwell, but they can also be life-saving. By having specific health screenings, you can find any problem early on and start treatment right away, improving your chances of living a long and healthy life. It’s far better to see a doctor and find out that there is a problem than to ignore any issues and let that problem get worse. With that in mind, here are some important health screenings every man should get.
Blood Pressure Screening
They say that high blood pressure is a silent killer because there are no real symptoms, and you might never even know you have it, but it can cause a lot of health issues, including damaging your heart. Therefore, it’s a good idea to have regular blood pressure screenings just in case yours is consistently high.
High blood pressure once in a while is normal – it’s a symptom of stress or excitement, for example. However, chronic high blood pressure is a real problem, and you might need to change your lifestyle (your diet can play a part in your blood pressure levels, for example, as can smoking) or start taking medication to counter it.
Testosterone Level Screening
Testosterone is a hormone that plays a huge part in a man’s fertility and development. If you are planning to start a family, it is always a good idea to have your testosterone levels checked so that, if the level is low, something can be done about it to ensure you are more successful.
Testosterone can also start to become lower as you get older and especially if you have symptoms of the andropause (the male menopause). In this case, testosterone replacement therapy might be a good solution. However, you won’t know until you get screened.
Prostate Cancer And Testicular Cancer Screening
Prostate cancer is the most common form of cancer in men, and the good news is that if it is caught early, it can be treated successfully. This is not guaranteed, of course, but the earlier you find it, the more chance you have of dealing with it and beating it. Although prostate cancer can form at any time for men of any age, it is most likely to be something that affects those over 50, so if you have reached that age, it’s wise to ensure you book an appointment with a specialist to get checked out every year.
Testicular cancer is another issue that men may need to face at some point in their lives.
This is much less common than prostate cancer, but it is still highly treatable if it is caught early. Having regular screenings will help with this, but it’s also a good idea to speak to your doctor for advice about how to check yourself for any lumps or swelling that might be something serious. A doctor will always be happy to examine anything you find, even if it turns out to be nothing at all, so checking yourself and getting help when need be is an excellent thing to do.