Get A Checkup

Men are notorious for not being assessed by their doctors on a regular basis. In many instances men will wait until an ailment is so debilitating that they can’t ignore it before seeing their doctors.

This is a serious problem. Visiting your GP for regular medical check-ups helps you to pick up early warning signs of disease or illness. In many instances (e.g. Skin cancer checks) early detection can mean the difference between successful treatment and a malady becoming untreatable. 

At a general physical examination your GP will talk to you about your medical history and that of your family as well as reviewing your lifestyle habits (e.g. Diet, exercise, alcohol consumption and smoking habits).

Certain factors will increase your risk of suffering certain ailments (e.g. A family history or skin cancer, coupled with fair skin and regular sun exposure significantly increases your risk of suffering a similar ailment at a future date), regular check-ups can assist a doctor in detecting such ailments far sooner.

In addition to visiting your doctor on a regular basis men can also perform a number of self checks at home such as

• skin checks looking for new or unusually developing moles/freckles,
• testes checks for lumps and
• routine dental care significantly lowers the incidence of tooth and gum disease.

Aside from a detailed medical history your GP should be reviewing:

1. Your cardiac health by taking your

• blood pressure
• running blood tests for cholesterol, triglycerides and blood glucose.

1. Body composition. The standard measure used here is Body Mass Index or “BMI”, which is simply a height to weight ratio and of increasing use is simply waist circumference. A higher than normal BMI and/or waist circumference increases the possibility of Type II Diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure and a range of other maladies.
2. PSA testing for prostrate cancer screening for those over 50 combined with a annual digital anal examination of the prostrate is recommended
3. After age 50 men should have a faecal occult blood test to test for blood in their stools which can be indicative 50 bowel cancer. This should be performed every second year. For men with a family history of bowel cancer in the family this should be done from age 40 onwards. Additionally, higher risk men should have a colonoscopy performed every 5 years. During a colonoscopy a doctor inserts a thin device into the large bowel via the anus to look for any abnormalities.
4. Eye site deteriorates with age. Men 50-65 should have their eye site reviewed every 5 years and once over 65 annually. Once over 40 years of age all men should be reviewed for glaucoma particularly if there is a family history of this ailment, if the individual is a diabetic, suffering from high blood pressure or has a history of steroid use.
5. Bone mineral density (BMD) testing. As men age, just like women, they experience an increased incidence of osteoporosis (thinning of the bones). A bone mineral density test is an effective way of assessing the susceptibility of an individual to this ailment. People often have BMD testing conducted when they suffer fractures, have a family history of osteoporosis or spinal deformities. Early identification of lowered BMD can help with appropriate intervention which includes lifestyle modification (diet and exercise) and appropriate medication.

Who to turn to for help

• Your doctor
• Dentist