Are you a man in your 40s and curious about your health? We might have a few medical tests that you should go for.
It is true that prevention is better than cure. However, many men in their 40s are unable to understand that as they are too busy with their kids and families to pay attention to their health. The truth is that regular medical check ups are a must for men, especially if they have a family to take care of, to make sure that they are healthy as well as disease free. However, men tend to shy away from getting medically tested, believing that they are completely healthy and later on get to know that they were already suffering from a disease.
This can be a serious or a chronic disease as well which can be treated if detected earlier. All men in their 40s have to do is keep getting medically tested on a regular basis to make sure that they are healthy. Getting these medical tests is not a difficult job and you can go to any hospital to get a medical check up.
Keeping this in mind, we have listed down a few medical tests that a man in their 40s should go through regularly for sure. Have a look below:
Cholesterol Test
While a little bit of cholesterol is good as it helps your brain and other organs do their job, too much cholesterol clogs your arteries as well as leads to a heart attack or a stroke. Testing your cholesterol levels is one of the best ways to know your risk of heart disease. Men over the age of 40 should get their cholesterol levels checked every four to six years. However, men who are already suffering from diabetes or heart disease, or have a family history of high cholesterol should have the test more often.
Colorectal Cancer Test
Colorectal cancer, also known as bowel cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in the United States and usually starts with abnormal growths called polyps in your colon or rectum before you notice any symptoms. However, its medical tests can detect it much earlier and is easy to treat as well. It is recommended that you start getting tested for colorectal cancer from the age of 45. However, you should get tested sooner if a close relative has had colorectal cancer, or if you have an inflammatory bowel disease like Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis.
Hepatitis C Test
Hepatitis C or HCV is a virus that can cause a serious liver infection. Fortunately, it is treatable if you get it detected by getting medically tested. However, the numbers of infected people are increasing in the younger generation. So, it is recommended that all men over the age of 18 should get tested for it at least once in their lifetime as detecting it early can lead to an effective and lifesaving treatment.
Diabetes Test
More than 34 million American adults have been suffering from Type 2 diabetes. If it is not caught and treated, this condition can damage blood vessels, eyes, kidneys as well as nerves, and it can even lead to heart disease or a stroke. Age is one of the biggest risk factors for diabetes, so it is important that all men aged 40 to 70 who are overweight or obese are tested for abnormal blood glucose at their annual physical exam. If the results are normal, another test is recommended after three years. The common test for diabetes, the A1C test, measures your average blood sugar levels for the past few months. If your levels are more than 6.5%, you may have diabetes. If levels are between 5.7% and 6.4%, you may have prediabetes, which means that you are at increased risk for developing diabetes.
Prostate Cancer Test
Prostate cancer takes place in men when male hormones, especially testosterones, stimulate the growth of cancer cells in the prostate. However, around 50% of men diagnosed with prostate cancer may be treated for a problem that won’t actually affect their health during their lifetime and the treatments may cause problems like sexual dysfunction so it is important to discuss about the suitable tests with a doctor.
High Blood Pressure Test
Blood pressure is the force of your blood pushing against the walls of your arteries. When the pressure is too high, your heart has to pump harder. That increases a man’s risk of a heart attack, stroke, or kidney or heart failure. Blood pressure can be checked with a quick, simple arm monitor. Treatment with medications and lifestyle changes can prevent dangerous or even deadly health problems. If your blood pressure is high, you’ll be asked to come back for periodic rechecks.
Obesity Test
Obesity is connected to heart disease, diabetes, some cancers as well as early death in some men. In order to get tested for obesity, your doctor will measure your weight and height annually. If your Body Mass index or BMI is 25 or higher, you will be asked to come back for rechecks. Apart from that, your doctor will recommend weight loss as well as lifestyle changes, such as working out.
Lung Cancer Test
Lung cancer is the most common cause of cancer death in the US, however, it can be cured if it is detected early. The biggest risk factors contributing to lung cancer are age and smoking. If you are a smoker or used to smoke then it is recommended that you get tested annually for lung cancer.
Conclusion
Although men over the age of 40 are too busy with their families as well as their job, it does not mean that they should not take care of their health. Health should be the first priority of a man. So, getting tested on a regular basis is essential for a man in his 40s to make sure that he is healthy.