Men’s health checks: The sooner the better

• Health checkups begin at birth. However, for adults in good health who do not suffer from any serious congenital diseases, health checkups may begin from the age of 30 upwards.
• Oncogenetic screening is the latest method of assessment available for those at high cancer risk, or for those with a family history of cancer.

With regard to our health, it doesn’t matter what our age or gender is, our bodies begin to deteriorate from the moment we are born. Health checkups are therefore necessary from this moment onwards, and as you may have seen, doctors will whisk babies away for a checkup immediately after their birth into the world. Such checkups include measuring the weight and height, and then later analyzing their growth and language development, as well as vaccinating them against disease.

Nonetheless, for healthy adults with no serious congenital diseases, health checkups may not be necessary until the age of 30 onwards. However, for those people with a family history of serious health disorders, including coronary artery disease, high lipid levels and high blood pressure, health checkups may be carried out from the age of 18 onwards. The frequency with which these checkups are carried out depends on the results identified at each stage of their life. If it is found that someone already has a disorder, or is at risk of a disorder developing, health checkups should be carried out every 3-6 months, whereas for those not at risk, 1-3 years between checkups should be sufficient.

Basic health assessments for men over the age of 18:

1. A medical examination carried out by a doctor
2. Blood pressure analysis
3. Eye test
4. Complete blood count assessment
5. Blood sugar level analysis (risk of diabetes)
6. Lipid level assessment (total amount of cholesterol, including good cholesterol, bad cholesterol and triglycerides)
7. Liver function test
8. Kidney function test
9. Uric acid level assessment (identifying risk of gout)
10. Feces and urine inspection
11. Chest x-ray
12. Upper and lower abdomen ultrasound examination

• Hepatitis A and Hepatitis B immunity assessment if such an examination has never previously been carried out
• Sexually transmitted disease screening in cases where a person has had unprotected sex or for those who regularly change their sexual partners
• Dental examination in cases where oral healthcare is a priority
• Body mass index assessment in cases where body shape and body weight require careful management
• Cancer screening through analysis of blood cancer indicators in cases where patients are particularly at risk, for example, those who are regularly exposed to chemicals or air pollution, those who regularly eat flame-grilled foods, those who have a mole that has undergone a change in form or size, and those with a family history of the disease
• A prostate examination and prostate cancer screening for those over the age of 45
• Risk analysis for cardiovascular disease, for instance, a stress test, an echo stress test, an electrocardiogram assessment, or a peripheral artery assessment using an ABI (Ankle Brachial Index) device, for those over the age of 45
• A colonoscopy for those over the age of 50 (to be repeated every 5 years)
• Bone mineral density assessment for those over the age of 50
• Vo2 Max assessment for those wishing to identify their own unique exercising capabilities
• Testosterone and anti-aging hormone level screening for those over the age of 40 who are interested in slowing the hormone aging process
• Vitamin and mineral level assessment for those who wish to identify any nutrient deficiencies, or for those who would like a personalized diet regime
• Annual influenza vaccination
• 10-yearly Diphtheria, Tetanus and Pertussis vaccinations
• An MMR vaccination, where no prior vaccination has taken place
• A shingle vaccination for those over the age of 60
• Oncogenetic screening where there is a family history of the disease present, or where a family member has lost their life to the disease