Screenings for men 40-64

Most physical exams and routine checkups include blood pressure tests. These screenings measure the force or pressure in your arteries as your heart pumps. Adults over 40 should have a blood pressure test, or hypertension screening, every year.

Blood tests provide insight into your overall health and help physicians detect disease and medical issues. Typically, adults over 40 should undergo annual blood testing. Common blood tests check for cholesterol levels, vitamin deficiencies, metabolic panels and blood disorders. If you have certain health issues, such as hypertension or diabetes, your physician may recommend more frequent blood tests.

Your provider may perform a pulse oximetry test as part of a routine examination (measures if the blood is well oxygenated). You may also receive this test if you have symptoms such as shortness of breath or a condition affecting your breathing – chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), lung cancer, heart failure or COVID-19.

Colonoscopies are often used to detect precancerous polyps and colorectal cancer. The U.S. Preventative Services Task Force recommends regular screenings for most men and women starting at age 45 and strongly encourages annual screenings for those 50 to 75 years old. Your doctor may recommend a colonoscopy before you turn 45 if you have certain symptoms or risk factors.

As you approach your 50s, discuss the potential benefits and risks of prostate cancer screenings with your healthcare provider. While there is no way to tell if your prostate is healthy without screening, you and your physician should determine the best option for you. Most men begin receiving regular digital rectal exams and PSA blood-level exams at age 50 to detect prostate cancer in its earliest stages when it’s most treatable.

Annual lung cancer screenings using low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) are recommended for people aged 50 to 80 with a 20 pack-year smoking history who currently smoke or have quit within the past 15 years. (A pack-year describes the number of cigarettes smoked in a lifetime. If you have smoked a pack a day for the last 20 years or two packs a day for the last 10 years, you have 20 pack-year history.) Physician referral needed.

Your provider may or may not recommend a professional skin exam every one to three years. Their recommendation will depend on your risk factors. People at high risk of skin cancer often have red or blonde hair, fair skin, several moles, a family or personal history of skin cancer or are frequently exposed to the sun. Please let your doctor know if you notice potential signs of skin cancer, such as new moles or ones that have changed in appearance.

Although testicular cancer is most common in men between the ages of 15 to 34, your provider may still include a testicular cancer screening as part of your routine physical exam. Some physicians recommend that men perform self-examinations regularly.