Prioritizing Men's Health: 5 Key Screenings to Schedule

Why Preventive Care is Crucial for Men's Well-being

Comparing average health outcomes between sexes, men come up short on life expectancy, mortality, and morbidity from most diseases. At least some of this sex disparity is likely attributable to men’s reluctance to engage in regular health screenings. So, why are men less likely to visit the doctor? When asked, men frequently cite motivations such as the “desire to be self-reliant” or not wanting to “appear feminine by asking for help” as reasons to avoid health screenings. It is sad that this unhealthy mindset directly threatens men’s health and happiness. Ideally, men should have their health monitored regularly to maintain optimal health for as long as possible. Preventive care can detect and ward off diseases before they become debilitating. Regular health screenings are an integral part of this care.

The Top 5 Health Screenings Every Man Should Consider

1.      Blood pressure – Hypertension is often called “the silent killer”, as it is the leading modifiable risk factor for cardiovascular disease and mortality. Hypertension is more common in men than in women. Checking your blood pressure is probably the most common screening test performed during regular medical checkups.  Unfortunately, men are more likely than women to forgo regular medical checkups. Blood pressure can effectively be controlled through a combination of medication and lifestyle changes (diet, exercise, and weight loss).

2.      Cholesterol – Dyslipidemia (unhealthy blood cholesterol) is another prominent risk factor for cardiovascular disease. As with blood pressure, dyslipidemia is more common in men than in women (though after menopause, levels of dyslipidemia in women rise to near those of men). Lipid panels should be checked every 4 to 6 years in young men (up to 40 years old). After the age of 40, your physician may order tests more frequently based on your lifetime cardiovascular risk. Dyslipidemia can also be addressed with a combination of lifestyle changes and medication.

3.      Diabetes – Diabetes is also more common in men than in women (Kautzky-Miller)! Regular checkups should include screenings for blood glucose, and give patients the opportunity to report whether they have typical symptoms of diabetes, such as unusually frequent drinking, eating, and urination. Once detected, diabetes is very treatable. Sadly, it is estimated that 1-2% of the US population is living with undiagnosed diabetes.

4.      Colorectal cancer – Guess what? Colorectal cancer is also more common in men than in women. The CDC recommends at a minimum that men undergo a colonoscopy starting at age 45, and then every 10 years thereafter. Higher-risk patients are directed to get more frequent colonoscopies. Unfortunately, men are less likely to opt for colonoscopy, citing, among other reasons, the fear that the procedure presents a threat to masculinity.

5.      Prostate cancer – Prostate cancer is the 2nd most common cancer in men, and the 5th leading cause of death globally. The prostate gland can also become inflamed, a condition referred to as prostatitis, leading to symptoms such as chronic pelvic pain, low back pain, and difficulties urinating, which substantially reduce one’s quality of life. The CDC recommends talking to your doctor about prostate health screenings beginning at age 55. Checking prostate health involves blood measures of prostate-specific antigen and a digital rectal exam. Unfortunately, men tend to be leery of screening, particularly the digital rectal exam.

Gut Symptoms: When Digestive Issues Signal a Bigger Problem

Common Gut Symptoms Men Often Overlook

The screenings listed above are tests conducted by medical providers. Tests alone are not enough. A key element to detecting illnesses centers on good communication between the patient and doctor. To best treat you, your physician needs to know what you are experiencing.  Gut health is one of the most common areas patients are reluctant to talk about, with 30-40% of patients expressing that they feel uncomfortable discussing GI issues with their healthcare provider, often citing fear of embarrassment.

Fecal urgency, constipation, diarrhea, and abdominal pain can diminish quality of life. In addition, these ailments can be symptomatic of more serious health problems, such as cancer and prostate issues. Your medical provider needs to be aware of your gut health to provide you with the best treatment.   

The Gut-Body Connection: How Digestive Health Reflects Overall Health

Gut health is a vital indicator of overall health. The gut microbiome is interlinked with our neuroendocrine system, such that gastrointestinal symptoms can predict issues such as depression and anxiety. In Parkinson’s disease patients, GI symptoms predict a faster rate of cognitive decline. Gut health is even emerging as an indicator of cardiovascular disease risk. Building rapport with your medical provider allows you to feel comfortable discussing all aspects of your health openly, setting you on the path to receiving the best care possible.

1. _{Connelly, P. J., Currie, G., & Delles, C. (2022). Sex Differences in the Prevalence, Outcomes and Management of Hypertension. Current hypertension reports, 24(6), 185–192. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11906-022-01183-8}

2. _{Fang, M., Wang, D., Coresh, J., & Selvin, E. (2022). Undiagnosed Diabetes in U.S. Adults: Prevalence and Trends. Diabetes care, 45(9), 1994–2002. https://doi.org/10.2337/dc22-0242}

3. _{Jones, J. D., Rahmani, E., Garcia, E., & Jacobs, J. P. (2020). Gastrointestinal symptoms are predictive of trajectories of cognitive functioning in de novo Parkinson's disease. Parkinsonism & related disorders, 72, 7–12. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.parkreldis.2020.01.009}

4. _{Kautzky-Willer, A., Leutner, M., & Harreiter, J. (2023). Sex differences in type 2 diabetes. Diabetologia, 66(6), 986–1002. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00125-023-05891-x}

5. _{Liu, L. Y., Aimaiti, X., Zheng, Y. Y., Zhi, X. Y., Wang, Z. L., Yin, X., Pan, Y., Wu, T. T., & Xie, X. (2023). Epidemic trends of dyslipidemia in young adults: a real-world study including more than 20,000 samples. Lipids in health and disease, 22(1), 108. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12944-023-01876-2}

6. _{Pendegast HJ, Leslie SW, Rosario DJ. Chronic Prostatitis and Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndrome in Men. [Updated 2024 Jan 11]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2025 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK599550/}

7. _{Rawla P. (2019). Epidemiology of Prostate Cancer. World journal of oncology, 10(2), 63–89. https://doi.org/10.14740/wjon1191}

8. _{Teo, C. H., Ng, C. J., Booth, A., & White, A. (2016). Barriers and facilitators to health screening in men: A systematic review. Social science & medicine (1982), 165, 168–176. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2016.07.023}

9. _{Travis, S., Potts Bleakman, A., Dubinsky, M. C., Schreiber, S., Panaccione, R., Hibi, T., Hunter Gibble, T., Kayhan, C., Atkinson, C., Sapin, C., Flynn, E. J., & Rubin, D. T. (2024). The Communicating Needs and Features of IBD Experiences (CONFIDE) Study: US and European Patient and Health Care Professional Perceptions of the Experience and Impact of Symptoms of Moderate-to-Severe Ulcerative Colitis. Inflammatory bowel diseases, 30(6), 939–949. https://doi.org/10.1093/ibd/izad142}

10. _{Tuohy, K. M., Fava, F., & Viola, R. (2014). 'The way to a man's heart is through his gut microbiota'--dietary pro- and prebiotics for the management of cardiovascular risk. The Proceedings of the Nutrition Society, 73(2), 172–185. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0029665113003911}

11. _{White, A., Ironmonger, L., Steele, R. J. C., Ormiston-Smith, N., Crawford, C., & Seims, A. (2018). A review of sex-related differences in colorectal cancer incidence, screening uptake, routes to diagnosis, cancer stage and survival in the UK. BMC cancer, 18(1), 906. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12885-018-4786-7}