Health checkups are crucial for everyone. Many diseases show no obvious symptoms in their early stages, and checkups help us detect them early for timely intervention. However, the sheer number of available checkup items often leaves us overwhelmed. October 28th is Men's Health Day. To mark this occasion, Chun Yu will discuss which checkup items are truly worthwhile for men.
I. Annual Routine Checkups
Most residents now undergo annual routine physicals, which include:
Physical Examination: Weight, blood pressure, general medical/surgical assessment, gynecological exam, eye/ear/oral checks;
Blood Tests: Complete blood count, liver function, lipid profile, blood glucose;
Urinalysis: Urinalysis, renal function, uric acid;
Supportive Tests: Electrocardiogram (ECG), abdominal ultrasound.
It's recommended to undergo routine checkups annually without delay. Individuals with hypertension or diabetes require more frequent blood pressure and blood glucose monitoring, following their doctor's advice.
II. Age-Specific Screenings
1. Men over 40 should undergo regular prostate cancer screening
The Cleveland Clinic recommends annual prostate cancer screening for men over 40. This includes:
Digital rectal exam (DRE);
Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test.
2. Men aged 50 and older should undergo colorectal cancer screening.
Colorectal cancer ranks among the top five most common cancers in China, with significantly higher incidence rates among men than women.
Men aged 50 and older should undergo colorectal cancer screening, which includes:
Annual fecal occult blood test;
Sigmoidoscopy every 3 years;
Colonoscopy every 10 years.
If you have a family history of colorectal cancer or polyps, or if you personally have inflammatory bowel disease or intestinal polyps, routine screening is recommended starting at age 40.
If you have any of the following conditions, more frequent screening under medical guidance is necessary:
Ulcerative colitis;
Personal history of colorectal cancer.
3. Men aged 55 and older should undergo lung cancer screening.
Lung cancer is the most prevalent and deadliest cancer in China, with incidence rates among men approximately double those of women.
The Cleveland Clinic recommends annual low-dose CT scans for high-risk individuals, defined as:
Those with a smoking history exceeding 30 years and a daily consumption of approximately one pack of cigarettes;
Those with a smoking history exceeding 15 years and a daily consumption of approximately two packs of cigarettes.
Compared to other lung cancer screening methods, low-dose CT demonstrates greater sensitivity in detecting early-stage lung cancer.
4. Men aged 65 and older should undergo abdominal aortic aneurysm screening.
Abdominal aortic aneurysms may be unfamiliar to many. They are not tumors but rather a structural change where the aorta dilates. Over half of patients with aneurysms show no symptoms early on. As the aneurysm enlarges, symptoms like abdominal distension, frequent urination, and constipation may appear. The greatest danger lies in aneurysm rupture, which can cause massive bleeding.The incidence of abdominal aortic aneurysms is three times higher in men than in women, with peak occurrence between ages 70 and 80. Smoking is the strongest risk factor.
Men aged 65-75 with a history of smoking are advised to undergo abdominal aortic aneurysm screening. The procedures include:
Ultrasound or CT for diagnosis;
CT angiography or magnetic resonance angiography may sometimes be required.
It is crucial to emphasize that these examinations are only applicable to individuals without specific underlying conditions. Those with particular medical conditions should follow their doctor's advice regarding the frequency of other necessary tests.