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Health screening - men - ages 18 to 39

Health maintenance visit - men - ages 18 to 39; Physical exam - men - ages 18 to 39; Yearly exam - men - ages 18 to 39; Checkup - men - ages 18 to 39; Men's health - ages 18 to 39; Preventive care exam - men - ages 18 to 39

 

You should visit your health care provider regularly, even if you feel healthy. The purpose of these visits is to:

  • Screen for medical issues
  • Assess your risk for future medical problems
  • Encourage a healthy lifestyle
  • Update vaccinations
  • Help you get to know your provider in case of an illness

Information

 

Even if you feel fine, you should still see your provider for regular checkups. These visits can avoid problems in the future. For example, the only way to find out if you have high blood pressure is to have it checked regularly. High blood sugar and high cholesterol level also may not have any symptoms in the early stages.

There are specific times when you should see your provider. Below are screening guidelines for men ages 18 to 39.

BLOOD PRESSURE SCREENING

  • Have your blood pressure checked every 3 to 5 years unless the top number (systolic number) is between 120 and 139 or the bottom number (diastolic number) is between 80 and 89 mm Hg or higher. Then have it checked every year.
  • If you have diabetes, heart disease, kidney problems, or certain other conditions, you may need to have your blood pressure checked more often, at least once a year.
  • Watch for blood pressure screenings in your neighborhood or workplace. Ask your provider if you can stop in to have your blood pressure checked. You can also check your blood pressure using the automated machines at local grocery stores and pharmacies.
  • If the top number is greater than 140, or the bottom number is greater than 90, schedule an appointment with your provider.

CHOLESTEROL SCREENING AND HEART DISEASE PREVENTION

  • Men over age 35 and older should be checked every 5 years.
  • If you have risk factors for heart disease, such as diabetes, start getting screened earlier, at age 20.
  • If you have diabetes, heart disease, kidney problems, or certain other conditions, you may need to be checked more often.

DIABETES SCREENING

  • If your blood pressure is above 135/80 mm Hg, your provider may test your blood sugar level for diabetes.
  • If you have a body mass index (BMI) greater than 25 and have other risk factors for diabetes, you should be screened. Having a BMI over 25 means that you are overweight. Asian Americans should be screened if their BMI is greater than 23.

DENTAL EXAM

  • Go to the dentist once or twice every year for an exam and cleaning. Your dentist will evaluate if you have a need for more frequent visits.

EYE EXAM

  • If you have vision problems, have an eye exam every 2 years, or more often if recommended by your provider.
  • Have an eye exam at least every year if you have diabetes.

IMMUNIZATIONS

  • After age 19, you should have a tetanus-diphtheria and acellular pertussis (Tdap) vaccine once as part of your tetanus-diphtheria vaccines. You should have a tetanus-diphtheria booster every 10 years.
  • You should get a flu shot each year.
  • You should get the human papilloma virus (HPV) vaccine series if you have not already had it.
  • You should receive 2 doses of varicella vaccine if you were born after 1980 and never had chickenpox or the varicella vaccine.
  • If you were born after 1956, your provider will determine if you should receive at least one dose of the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine.
  • Your provider may recommend other immunizations if you have certain medical conditions, such as diabetes.

INFECTIOUS DISEASE SCREENING

  • Depending on your lifestyle and medical history, you may need to be screened for infections such as syphilis, chlamydia, and HIV, as well as other infections.

PHYSICAL EXAM

  • Your blood pressure should be checked at least every 3 to 5 years.
  • Your height, weight, and BMI should be checked at every exam.

During your exam, your provider may ask you about:

  • Depression
  • Diet and exercise
  • Alcohol and tobacco use
  • Safety, such as use of seat belts and smoke detectors

TESTICULAR EXAM

  • The US Preventive Services Task Force now recommends against performing testicular self-exam. Doing testicular exams has been shown to have little to no benefit.

 

 

References

American Dental Association. Questions about going to the dentist. www.mouthhealthy.org/en/dental-care-concerns/questions-about-going-to-the-dentist . Accessed Jul 24, 2015.

American Optometric Association. Comprehensive adult eye and vision examination. Updated February 6, 2015. www.aoa.org/Documents/EBO/Adult%20Eye%20and%20Vision%20Examination%20Guideline%20Peer-Public%20Review%20Document.pdf . Accessed July 24, 2015.

Atkins D, Barton M. The periodic health examination. In: Goldman L, Schafer AI, eds. Goldman's Cecil Medicine . 25th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Saunders; 2016:chap 15.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Assessing immunity to varicella. Updated July 1, 2016. www.cdc.gov/chickenpox/hcp/immunity.html . Accessed July 24, 2016.

Chamberlain JJ, Rhinehart AS, Shaefer CF Jr, Neuman A. Diagnosis and management of diabetes: synopsis of the 2016 American Diabetes Association standards of medical care in diabetes. Ann Intern Med . 2016;164(8):542-552. PMID: 26928912 www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26928912 .

Cosman F, de Beur SJ, LeBoff MS, et al. Clinician's guide to prevention and treatment of osteoporosis. Osteoporos Int . 2014;25(10):2359-2381. PMID: 25182228 www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25182228 .

De Paula FJA, Black DM, Rosen CJ. Osteoporosis and bone biology. In: Melmed S, Polonsky KS, Larsen PR, Kronenberg HM, eds. Williams Textbook of Endocrinology . 13th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2016:chap 29.

Ettehad D, Emdin CA, Kiran A, et al. Blood pressure lowering for prevention of cardiovascular disease and death: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Lancet . 2016;387(10022):957-967. PMID: 26724178 www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26724178 .

Fihn SD, Blankenship JC, Alexander KP, et al. 2014 ACC/AHA/AATS/PCNA/SCAI/STS focused update of the guideline for the diagnosis and management of patients with stable ischemic heart disease: a report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Task Force on Practice Guidelines, and the American Association for Thoracic Surgery, Preventive Cardiovascular Nurses Association, Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions, and Society of Thoracic Surgeons. J Am Coll Cardiol . 2014;64(18):1929-1949. PMID: 25077860 www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25077860 .

Greenland P, Alpert JS, Beller GA, et al. 2010 ACCF/AHA guideline for assessment of cardiovascular risk in asymptomatic adults: a report of the American College of Cardiology Foundation/American Heart Association Task Force on Practice Guidelines. Circulation . 2010;122(25):e584-e636. PMID: 21098428 www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21098428 .

James PA, Oparil S, Carter BL, et al. 2014 evidence-based guideline for the management of high blood pressure in adults: report from the panel members appointed to the Eighth Joint National Committee (JNC 8). JAMA . 2014 Feb 5;311(5):507-520. PMID: 24352797 www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24352797 .

Kim DK, Bridges CB, Harriman KH; Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), ACIP Adult Immunization Work Group. Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices. Recommended immunization schedule for adults aged 19 years or older--United States, 2016. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep . 2016;65(4):88-90. PMID: 26845417 www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26845417 .

Meschia JF, Bushnell C; American Heart Association Stroke Council; et al. Guidelines for the primary prevention of stroke: a statement for healthcare professionals from the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association. Stroke . 2014;45(12):3754-3832. PMID: 25355838 www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25355838 .

Moyer VA; US Preventive Services Task Force. Recommendation statement: screening for lung cancer. Ann Intern Med . 2014;160(5):330-338. PMID: 24378917 www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24378917 .

National Cancer Institute. Prostate cancer screening. (health professional version). Updated March 4, 2016. www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/screening/prostate/HealthProfessional/ . Accessed April 13, 2016.

National Cancer Institute: PDQ colorectal cancer screening. Updated January 15, 2016. www.cancer.gov/types/colorectal/hp/colorectal-screening-pdq . Accessed June 13, 2016.

Provenzale D, Jasperson K, Ahnen DJ, et al. Colorectal cancer screening, Version 1. 2015. J Natl Compr Canc Netw . 2015;13(8):959-968. PMID: 26285241 www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26285241 .

Ridker PM, Libby P, Burning JE. Risk markers and the primary prevention of cardiovascular disease. In: Mann DL, Zipes DP, Libby P, Bonow RO, Braunwald E, eds. Braunwald's Heart Disease: A Textbook of Cardiovascular Medicine . 10th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Saunders; 2015:chap 42.

Siu AL; US Preventive Services Task Force. Recommendation statement: screening for high blood pressure in adults. Ann Intern Med . 2015;163(10):778-786. PMID: 26458123 www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26458123 .

Stone NJ, Robinson JG, Lichtenstein AH, et al. 2013 ACC/AHA Guideline on the treatment of blood cholesterol to reduce atherosclerotic cardiovascular risk in adults. Circulation . 2014;129(25 Suppl 2):S1-S45. PMID: 24222016 www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24222016 .

US Preventive Services Task Force. Draft recommendation statement: statin use for the primary prevention of cardiovascular disease in adults: preventive medication. www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/Page/Document/draft-recommendation-statement175/statin-use-in-adults-preventive-medication1 .

US Preventive Services Task Force. Screening for prostate cancer. www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/prostatecancerscreening/prostatefinalrs.htm . Accessed April 13, 2016.

US Preventive Services Task Force. Screening for prostate cancer. www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/Page/Document/UpdateSummaryFinal/prostate-cancer-screening?ds=1&s=Prostate . Accessed July 24, 2015

US Preventive Services Task Force. Screening for testicular cancer. www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/Page/Document/UpdateSummaryFinal/testicular-cancer-screening?ds=1&s=testicular . Accessed July 25, 2014.

 

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              Tests for Health screening - men - ages 18 to 39

               

                 

                Review Date: 5/22/2015

                Reviewed By: Laura J. Martin, MD, MPH, ABIM Board Certified in Internal Medicine and Hospice and Palliative Medicine, Atlanta, GA. Internal review and update on 08/05/2016 by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Isla Ogilvie, PhD, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.

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