Men's Health

Checkup Schedule

Men have a well-earned reputation for tuning up their cars more frequently than their bodies. But checkups and screenings can help prevent equipment deterioration and malfunction.

Here's when to get your jalopy into the doctor's office:

AGES 18 TO 39

Physical: Every three years

Blood pressure: Annually

Tuberculosis skin test: Every five years

Blood tests and urinalysis: Every three years (testing for cholesterol, diabetes, kidney and thyroid dysfunction)

Electrocardiogram (EKG): At age 30

Tetanus booster: Every 10 years

Rectal exam: Annually

Testicular, skin, oral and breast self-exams: Monthly

Skin health: Monthly mole self-exam beginning at age 20; then see a doctor every three years

Oral health: One to two dental exams a year.

Hearing test: Beginning at age 18; then every 10 years

Eye exam: When experiencing problems or visual changes

AGES 40 TO 49

Physical: Every two years

Blood pressure: Every year

Tuberculosis skin test: Every five years

Blood tests and urinalysis: Every two years (cholesterol, diabetes, kidney and thyroid dysfunction)

Electrocardiogram (EKG): Every four years

Rectal exam: Annually

Prostate exam: PSA blood test starting at age 45 if you're African-American, or if a father or brother was diagnosed before age 65, according to the American Cancer Society. Men at even higher risk could begin testing at age 40.

Testicular self-exam: Every month

Skin health: Monthly mole self-exam; see a doctor every year

Oral health: See the dentist once or twice a year

Hearing test: Every 10 years

Eye exam: Every two to four years

AGES 50 TO 64

Physical: Annually

Blood pressure: Annually

Tuberculosis skin test: Annually

Blood tests and urinalysis: Annually (cholesterol, diabetes, kidney and thyroid dysfunction)

Electrocardiogram (EKG): Every three years

Rectal exam: Annually

Tetanus booster: Every 10 years

Prostate exam: Annually (PSA blood test and digital rectal examination, according to the American Cancer Society.)

Testicular, skin, oral and breast self-exams: Monthly

Skin health: Monthly mole self-exam; see a doctor every year

Oral health: See the dentist once or twice a year

Bone health: Screening at age 60

Hearing test: Every three years

Eye exam: Every two to four years

Colon and rectal exams: Starting at age 50, the American Cancer Society (and American Academy of Family Physicians) suggests following one of five schedules: Yearly fecal occult blood test (FOBT) or fecal immunochemical test (FIT); flexible sigmoidoscopy every five years; yearly FOBT or FIT, plus flexible sigmoidoscopy every five years; double-contrast barium enema every five years; colonoscopy every 10 years.

AGE 65 AND OLDER

Eye exam: Every one to two years

Abdominal aortic aneurysm: One-time screening for men who have smoked

Hearing: Every three years

Sources: Men's Health Network, American Academy of Family Physicians, American Cancer Society, U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, American Speech-Language-Hearing Association.

Prior | Tell us what you think | Next

Add to Your Social Bookmarks: Del.icio.us Digg Furl Reddit Simpy Spurl Y! MyWeb - StumbleUpon