Content provided by the Health & Wellness Team at GBS Benefits
June is National Men’s Health Month and is a great time to encourage men in your life to make their health a priority. While you can’t control your genetics, taking charge of your overall health can help lower your risk of developing many conditions down the line.
Proper preventive care can lower your risk of illness and help you maintain a healthy lifestyle. Let’s dive into the preventive visits that may be appropriate based on different ages.
20’s and 30’s
- Frequency: Visit your personal doctor every year to review your overall health, lifestyle, and plans for the future.
- Tests needed: Review any needed immunizations with your doctor as well as the need for STI screenings or lifestyle changes.
- Questions to ask: Review any physical or mental health concerns with your doctor.
40’s
- Frequency: Yearly visits with your physician. Discuss need of colonoscopies based on family history or concerning symptoms.
- Tests needed: Review any needed immunizations with your doctor. You may receive necessary blood work like a cholesterol panel or diabetes screening.
- Questions to ask: Discuss any changes in your mental or physical health.
50’s and 60’s
- Frequency: Discuss the need for more frequent visits with your doctor. This age range may require more frequent colonoscopies or additional immunizations such as shingles, flu, and pneumonia.
- Tests needed: Consider a prostate cancer screening to check your PSA levels. Consider also getting a bone density test.
- Questions to ask: Discuss any changes in mental or physical health. Consider having your hearing and vision tested.
Advice for all ages
- Eat a well-balanced diet.
- Check in on your mental health and the mental health of other men in your life. Mental health/suicide rates are higher in men and specifically men of working age and beyond.
- Don’t smoke.
- Receive annual dental, eye, and skin exams.
- Protect your skin and monitor any changes that occur.
- Wear a seatbelt and other protective gear when necessary. Don’t forget to wear your helmet to reduce risk of cognitive impairment.
