Patients who keep routine check-ups with their doctor are more likely to identify risks for disease and take preventive measures to live a fuller, healthier life. Your health is important—and the specialists at Hendricks Regional Health are here to help.
For more on our men's health services, contact us today at (317) 745-3627 to find a physician that meets your needs. Many of our experienced primary care doctors are accepting new patients and are happy to schedule a Meet and Greet appointment.
Know Your Health Stats
Some medical conditions such as heart disease, cancer, diabetes and Alzheimer's disease are hereditary, which means they can be passed down from family members. Knowing your family medical history is key to helping you and your doctor create a preventive health plan that's right for you. Your doctor benefits from knowing your full medical history when:
- diagnosing a medical condition
- calculating your risk for certain diseases, and helping you make lifestyle changes to lower your risk
- determining what medical tests or screenings are appropriate for you, and when you should have them performed.
Watch for Symptoms and Changes
It is important to tell your doctor about any changes in your health or unusual symptoms such as fatigue, unexplained weight loss or gain of 10 pounds or more, abnormal signs of bleeding in stool or urine, chest pain, difficulty breathing, chronic cough that lasts longer than four weeks or changes in sexual function.
Although many men think these symptoms are just nagging issues, they can be early indicators of a bigger medical condition or disease that if caught early might be easily treatable or preventable.
Health Screenings for Men
Defend yourself from preventable diseases and illnesses by maintaining a healthy lifestyle built around eating a well-balanced diet, avoiding smoking, exercising regularly and reducing stress.
Also, preventive health screenings are an important part of a healthy lifestyle. They promote early detection of illness and disease when it may be the most treatable. The screening guidelines listed here provide good talking points for your next doctor's appointment. With your participation, your physician is the best source for determining the preventive screening plan that makes the most sense for your personal health risks and medical history.
| Condition |
Screening Test |
Recommendation |
| Cardiovascular disease |
- Blood Pressure
- Cholesterol (fasting lipoprotein profile to measure total, HDL and LDL cholesterol and triglycerides)
- Waist Circumference
- Weight
|
- Each regular healthcare visit or at least once every 2 years if blood pressure is less than 120/80 mm Hg
- Beginning at age 20; every 5 years for normal-risk people; more often if your total cholesterol is above 200 mg/dL, if you are a man over 45 or a woman over 50, if your HDL (good) cholesterol is less than 40 mg/dL (if you're a man) or less than 50 mg/dL (if you're a woman), or if you have other risk factors for heart disease and stroke
- As needed to help evaluate cardiovascular risk
- Each regular healthcare visit
|
| Dental problems/gum disease |
Dental exam |
Regular cleanings/check-ups every six months |
| Diabetes |
Blood glucose screening |
Beginning at age 45; every three years for normal-risk people; more often if at higher risk |
| Prostate cancer |
Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) blood test and Digital Rectal Exam (DRE) |
Your doctor should offer testing annually beginning at age 50 for men who have at least a 10-year life expectancy; beginning earlier if at high risk (African-American men or men with a first-degree relative diagnosed before age 65) |
| Colorectal cancer |
Tests may include fecal occult blood test, barium enema, sigmoidoscopy or colonoscopy
|
Beginning at age 50; tests and frequency may vary depending on personal medical history |
| Skin cancer |
Skin exam |
As part of a routine cancer-related checkup |
*The majority of this information was sourced from the ACS or AHA.