Top 5 essential health screenings for men
At a glance
- Screenings detect risks with no symptoms, like high cholesterol and early-stage cancers
- Recommended tests for men include cholesterol, blood pressure, colorectal, prostate and diabetes screenings
- Men 35-plus should get annual checkups; younger men with no diagnosed conditions every two years
When was the last time you checked in on your health?
Routine physical exams and screenings are important for men of all ages, yet more than half of men in a Cleveland Clinic survey reported not getting regular screenings.
“Health screenings help you stay on top of problems like high cholesterol or high blood pressure, which typically don’t cause symptoms until they become severe,” says James Hrncir, ARNP, a family nurse practitioner at MultiCare Capital Primary Care – Yauger Way. “Screenings are also important for catching diseases like colon cancer that are easier to treat the sooner they’re discovered.”
Staying current with health screenings isn’t just about prioritizing your own health — it’s also a powerful way to show up for those you love.
Wondering what to get and when? Here’s your guide to essential men’s health screenings.
Cholesterol screening
Cholesterol is a type of fat that’s necessary for the healthy functioning of our bodies, yet it’s important to keep cholesterol levels in check.
High cholesterol causes plaque to develop in the arteries, raising your risk for heart attacks and strokes. Since high cholesterol doesn’t cause symptoms, you won’t know you have it without a screening.
Your provider will check your cholesterol through a simple blood test called a lipid panel. The panel measures different types of cholesterol — LDL and HDL — as well as triglycerides, another kind of fat.
You may need to fast for 10-12 hours prior to the test, Hrncir shares.
When to get it: The American Heart Association recommends healthy adults over 20 have their cholesterol checked every four to six years. If you’re over 40 or have certain risk factors, such as heart disease, you may need to have it checked more frequently.
Blood pressure test
High blood pressure (also known as hypertension) happens when blood exerts too much force on the artery walls as it passes through them. When left untreated, high blood pressure can increase your risk for many health problems, from heart disease to stroke to kidney damage.
Nearly half of U.S. adults have high blood pressure, according to the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, but many may not know they have it. Like high cholesterol, high blood pressure won’t cause symptoms.
A blood pressure test measures your systolic pressure (blood pressure during heartbeats) and diastolic pressure (blood pressure between beats). Learn how to interpret these numbers.
When to get it: Hrncir recommends most men get their blood pressure checked at least once a year. If you have a family history of heart disease or other risk factors, you may need to check it more often.
How often should men get a checkup?
Men 35 and older should see a primary care provider once a year, recommends Hrncir. Men younger than 35 who have no diagnosed health conditions should schedule a checkup at least every two years.
Seeking routine care will help you establish a relationship with your provider, who can help you reach your health goals and address problems or questions that arise as you age.
Colorectal cancer screening
About one in 24 men will develop colorectal cancer in their lifetime, according to the American Cancer Society. Regular screenings can detect cancer early, when it’s more easily treated.
“Colonoscopy is the gold standard for colorectal cancer screening,” Hrncir says. “It’s the most effective at ruling out cancer, and if precancerous polyps are discovered, they can be removed during the screening.”
Colonoscopies are recommended every 10 years for people of average risk. Other types of colorectal screenings are available, including at-home tests, which require you to collect a stool sample and then mail it to a lab for analysis.
While at-home tests are more convenient, they need to be done more frequently — every one to three years. And if you receive an abnormal test result, you’ll still need to get a colonoscopy.
Talk to your doctor or other health care provider about which colorectal screening is a good fit for you.
When to get it: The American Cancer Society recommends people at average risk of colorectal cancer begin screening at age 45. Screening frequency depends on your age, the type of testing and the presence of other risk factors.
Prostate cancer screening
Aside from skin cancer, prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men in the U.S. Early-stage prostate cancer tends not to cause symptoms.
The prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test is a simple blood test that can support early detection of this disease.
When to get it: Hrncir recommends that men 55 and older who are at average risk talk to their provider about getting a PSA test annually. Those at higher risk of prostate cancer, including people with a family history of the disease, should consider a PSA test as early as 40.
“There are a lot of reasons a person may have an elevated PSA level, so an abnormal test result doesn’t always mean cancer,” Hrncir says. “Erring on the side of caution with prostate screening can help make sure we do catch cancer before it spreads to other parts of the body.”
Prediabetes and Type 2 diabetes screening
Type 2 diabetes is a chronic condition where the body becomes resistant to insulin, a hormone that regulates the amount of sugar in the blood. This condition doesn’t happen all at once — it starts out as prediabetes, when blood sugar levels are higher than normal.
“Prediabetes is really common,” Hrncir says. “Most people don’t know they have it, since there typically aren’t any symptoms. Screening can help us catch prediabetes before it develops into Type 2 diabetes.”
Screening for prediabetes (or Type 2 diabetes) involves a blood test. It may be part of routine bloodwork at your annual checkup.
When to get it: The American Diabetes Association recommends testing for prediabetes and Type 2 diabetes starting at age 35. Your provider may recommend screening at an earlier age if you have a family history of Type 2 diabetes, concerning symptoms or other risk factors.
