Checkup for Men: What To Check at Every Age

Men dislike going to the doctor, especially when nothing hurts. It is not surprising that after age 40, health problems begin appearing seemingly "out of nowhere" and become an unpleasant surprise. To avoid this, it is recommended to undergo a checkup once a year.

Dr. Helga

general practitioner

Annual checkup for all men

In addition to chronic diseases that need to be regularly monitored, the annual basic examination for men includes:

Clinical blood work: gives an idea of the general state of health and the presence of hematologic, infectious, and inflammatory diseases.
Biochemical blood analysis: shows the work of internal organs, level of cholesterol and glucose in the blood, and violations of carbohydrate metabolism.
General urinalysis: reflects the work of the excretory system of the body including the kidneys and urinary tract.
Ultrasound of the abdominal cavity: shows the state of internal organs to identify inflammatory processes and neoplasms.
Ultrasound of the scrotum: assesses the condition of blood vessels and blood flow.
Ultrasound CIMT (CIMT) of the carotid arteries: a marker of atherosclerosis and coronary heart disease.
ECG (or electrocardiogram): helps rule out ischemia, angina, arrhythmia, and other heart muscle disorders.

After age 40

At this age, the following checkups are added to the previous basic list:

Cardiologic examination: includes the determination of proteins of the acute and subacute phase of inflammation of the heart muscle (C-Reactive protein, lactate, troponin), creatine kinase enzyme, indicators of possible thrombosis, and various fractions of cholesterol.
Ultrasound of the heart: shows the size of the heart cavities, thickness and mobility of the heart muscle, and structure and work of the valves.
Hormonal profile: it is worth starting with thyroid hormone, and if there are abnormalities, undergo a more complete examination, which the doctor will prescribe.
Gastroscopy and colonoscopy: doing these every 3-5 years helps to detect diseases and tumors of the stomach and colon.

After age 50

Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test: important for diagnosing prostate disease.
Cancer profile: includes the determination of cancer biomarkers, the most relevant for men, the increase of which is associated with the development of tumor processes.
Lipid profile: includes analysis of total cholesterol, high and low-density lipoproteins, and triglycerides.
Functional pulmonary test (spirometry): detects obstructions and pathologic changes in the lungs, including cancer, which is especially important for smokers.

It is easier and cheaper to prevent diseases than to treat them. A 1-2 day annual checkup will allow you to monitor key health indicators and detect problems in time.