Men’s health guidelines to discuss with your physician at every age

Preventive care is important for men of all ages, but for many it can take a low priority, especially if you have no obvious acute issues.

Johnny Dias, DO, an internal medicine physician in Greenville, South Carolina, says he devotes a great portion of his clinic work to men’s health, and that establishing a relationship with a patient is crucial to building healthy long-term habits.

Make time for annual visits

“Guys don’t like to talk about this stuff, generally, but it’s so important to stay on top of the checkups specific to males,” Dr. Dias says. “During annual visits, we typically discuss standard health guidelines men should be monitoring through each stage of their lives.”

Guidelines do take into account any individual’s family history or lifestyle choices.

Men should always consult their physician to see which recommendations make the most sense for their individual health needs.

“All of my recommendations come with the caveat of having regular follow-up visits,” says Dr. Dias. “That’s the most important thing, starting even in your 20s.”

Apps can help

To keep track of guidelines that are specific to them, Dr. Dias suggests downloading the Prevention Task Force app, which provides information based on the current recommendations of the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF).

Users can input specific characteristics, such as age, sex, and selected behavioral risk factors, and assess the most up-to-date evidence-based recommendations. Once you do that, the app gives you a solid baseline checklist of topics to discuss with your physician at your regular visits.

“The information on the USPSTF app is really important to be aware of when meeting with your provider on an annual visit. It helps make sure that you’re being screened for the things that are really necessary to maintain your health,” says Cole Zanetti, DO, MPH a board-certified family medicine and preventive medicine physician and who also serves as the director for digital health at Rocky Vista University College of Osteopathic Medicine in Parker, Colorado.

How to avoid unnecessary tests

For information on avoiding potentially unnecessary screenings, Dr. Zanetti recommends visiting ChoosingWisely.org.

The list below is based primarily on the “category A” tier of guidelines shown on the app for an average build, sexually active, non-smoking man in the middle of each age range. Category A denotes recommendations that are tied to clear, unequivocal evidence of positive patient outcomes. Preventive guidelines in the other categories (B, C, D, I) are not as strongly supported by evidence-based findings, but could be worth discussing with your physician depending on your concerns.

Ages 18-34

Monitor your blood pressure — annual screenings recommended for adults over 18₁
Maintain a healthy diet and do ample physical activity₂.
Keep tabs on your mental health and watch for signs of depression and other mental illnesses.
Talk to your physician about your risk for hepatitis C infection.
Know the risks of sexually transmitted diseases and infections_3.
Consult with your physician on your vaccine schedule, and get your annual influenza shot.
Schedule regular dental visits and, as needed, eye exams.

_{1 USPSTF: “High blood pressure is a major contributing risk factor to heart failure, heart attack, stroke, and chronic kidney disease.”}
^{2 Dr. Dias: “I tell younger patients who have no acute issues and are doing just fine that it’ll probably stay that way for about 10 years. But at that age, you’re developing a lot of habits that will carry through the rest of your life.”}
^{3 HIV screenings recommended for those at higher risk of infection (men who have sex with men, men who have unprotected sex, injection drug users). Those at higher risk may consider PrEP (preventive medications). Syphilis screenings recommended for those at higher risk of infection.}

Ages 34-49

Keep following all of the above recommendations for men ages 18-34, adding annual cholesterol and diabetes screenings.
Starting at age 40, begin having discussions with your physician on if low- to moderate-dose cholesterol-lowering medication (statin) for the prevention of cardiovascular disease events and mortality is right for you.₄

_{4 To determine if you are a candidate for statin therapy, physicians may consider your age, risk factors (such as diabetes, hypertension, and smoking), and assess any elevated risks based on cholesterol and diabetes screening results.}

Ages 49-64

Keep following all of the above recommendations for men.
At age 50, the USPSTF recommends beginning screenings for colorectal cancer. Risks and benefits of screening methods vary, so discuss your risks and family history with your physician first.
If you are at higher risk of cardiovascular disease, from ages 50-59, the USPSTF recommends talking to your doctor about initiating low-dose aspirin treatment.

Ages 65+

Keep following all of the above recommendations for men.
Adults over 65 should be screened annually for a history of falls or balance impairment.
Patients that are 75 and up should have a conversation with their provider regarding the benefits vs risks of colon cancer screening.