10 Health Tests Must For Men

Men, in particular, are prone to a few diseases. They need to be

more concern about these diseases well in time and get screenings
done in time to stay healthy. Men need to take charge of their health
from the beginning, says Dr. Steven Lamm at NYU Langone Medical
Center.

1. Check your BMI

Excess weight is the cause of many
diseases like diabetes and heart
disease. So getting your body mass
index (BMI) checked is very important.
BMI measures your body fat based on
your height and weight. BMI can
determine obesity. According to the
National Heart, Lung and Blood
Institute, a BMI between 18.5 and 25 is
a normal range for men.

2. Check your cholesterol level

From the age of 35, you
should start checking your
cholesterol level, every five
years. If you suffer from
diabetes, or if you smok, or
your BMI is over 30, then
cholesterol screening should
be done from 20 years 200
onwards. In case your
cholesterol is high, then the
screening should be done
more frequently. A blood sample taken from your hand is used to
measure total cholesterol, HDL (?good?) cholesterol, LDL (?bad?)
cholesterol, and triglycerides. According to the American Heart
Association, a healthy total cholesterol should be below mg/dL.

3. Test your triglycerides

High triglycerides (a sort of fat) are
connected with metabolic disorder,
which increases the danger of heart
disease and diabetes. Heart disease
is one of the main causes of death in
men. So in your 30s and 40s you
should know your risks. The same
blood taken to check your
cholesterol gives a reading of your
triglycerides. An ideal triglyceride
level is under 100 mg/dL, in spite of the fact that levels underneath
150 mg/dL are considered as ordinary.

4. Watch your blood pressure

High blood pressure is the
cause for heart disease, kidney
disease, and stroke. To avoid
these diseases, you need to
check your blood pressure
regularly.
Normal
blood
pressure is less than 120/80
mm Hg.

5. Get the diabetes tests done

Blood pressure more than 135/80
mm Hg may be a symptom of
diabetes. Testing for diabetes may
include a hemoglobin A1C blood
test, a fasting plasma glucose
(FPG) test, or an oral glucose
tolerance test (OGTT). A single
test is insufficient to diagnose
diabetes. A second test must
affirm if your glucose level is high.

6. Colon cancer screening

Colon cancer screening should be done
when your reach the age of 50. According
to the American Cancer Society, colon
cancer is the second leading cause of
death from cancer in US men. A
colonoscopy is painless and takes only 15
to 20 minutes. This test can detect colon
cancer early, when it is treatable.

7. Testicular tests
Testicular tests are suggested because
there is a higher risk of testicular
cancer in 20s and 30s. A lump on the
testicle is the first symptom of
testicular cancer. Sometimes the
testicle is swollen or larger than
normal without a lump. Some men
dont understand that something isnt
right until the cancer has developed
substantial. Doctors say that checking a
man?s testicles should be part of a general physical exam. The
American Cancer Society recommends a testicular exam by a doctor
as part of a routine cancer-related check-up.

8. Screening for prostate cancer

Prostate cancer is the most
common
cancer
diagnosed
among men, and a leading cause
of death in men. A screening test
that can accurately identify
asymptomatic
men
with
aggressive localized tumors, can
reduce
prostate
cancer
morbidity.
Prostate-specific
antigen (PSA) testing is the most
common
prostate
cancer
screening.

9. Lung cancer screening

Lung
cancer
screening
is
recommended at the age of 55,
particularly for heavy smokers. Doctors
recommend annual screening for lung
cancer with low-dose computed
tomography (LDCT) in adults aged 55
to 80 years who have a 30 pack-year
smoking history and currently smoke
or have quit within the past 15 years.
Screening should be discontinued once
a person has not smoked for 15 years.

10. Ultrasound to detect AAA

An abdominal aortic aneurysm
(AAA) is caused by an enlarged
blood vessel in the stomach that
ruptures suddenly. AAAs have
no symptoms but are often
fatal; about 30-50% of people
with a ruptured AAA die before
reaching the hospital. The good
news is that an ultrasound can
detect AAA. The US Department
of Health & Human Services
recommends screening for men between 65 and 75 who have
smoked 100 or more cigarettes in their lifetime.