OH! Magazine - Australian Version June 2014 (Australian Version) | Page 20

( Men’s Health )

GET A CHECK UP,
FOR OPTIMUM HEALTH
Men, heed this advice: a health check could save your life!
en should have regular health
checks. See your doctor for
regular medical check-ups to help you
stay healthy and to pick up early warning
signs of disease or illness. Cardiovascular
(heart) disease, diabetes and some
cancers can often be picked up in their
early stages, when treatment may be
more successful.
When you have a health check, your
doctor will talk to you about your medical
history, your family’s history of disease
and your lifestyle. Your diet, weight, how
much you exercise and whether or not
you smoke will also be discussed.
If you have high-risk factors, such as a
family history of a disease, it may be
more likely that you will develop a
particular disease. Regular check-ups
may help your doctor pick up early
warning signs. For example, high blood
pressure may be an early warning sign of
cardiovascular disease.

M

Health care at home
Health checks and staying well should be
part of your regular routine. This will help
you stay healthy and pick up potential
problems early. Things you can do at
home include:
• Skin checks – you should check your
skin for unusual moles or freckles.
See your doctor if you notice anything
unusual. Men at high risk (for
example, those who work outdoors)
need a yearly examination by their
doctor or dermatologist.
• Dental care – you can reduce your risk of
tooth decay, gum disease and tooth loss
if you clean your teeth regularly and eat
a low-sugar diet. Visit the dentist at least
once a year for a dental examination and
a professional cleaning.
• Testicle checks – from puberty
onwards, you should check regularly
for unusual thickenings or lumps in
the testicles. See your doctor if you
are concerned.
20

JUNE 2014 ( OH! MAGAZINE )

Heart health checks
Health checks for heart disease may
include:
• Blood pressure – have your blood
pressure checked every two years if
your blood pressure is normal, you are
aged under 40 years, and there is no
family history of high blood pressure.
Have it checked yearly if you are over
40, your blood pressure is on the high
side or you have a personal or family
history of high blood pressure, stroke or
heart attack. Be advised by your doctor.
• Blood tests – these check cholesterol
levels and blood triglycerides, among
other things. High levels may indicate
an increased risk of various health
problems including heart disease. If
you’re over 45, you should have these
blood tests once every five years. If
you’re at high risk of cardiovascular
disease and have a family history, you
should be tested every year from the
age of 40.
• Obesity tests – being overweight is a
significant risk factor for many health
conditions, including cardiovascular
disease and diabetes. Ask your doctor
to check your body mass index (BMI)
and waist measurement every two
years if you are aged under 40 years.
If you are older than 40, you should
have your weight checked annually.
• Electrocardiogram (ECG) – this is a
non-invasive and painless medical
test that detects cardiac (heart)
abnormalities by measuring the
electrical activity generated by the
heart as it contracts. If you are aged
over 50 years, your doctor may
recommend an ECG test every two to
five years, depending on your health
and medical history.
Other health conditions men should
be mindful of include:
• Diabetes
• Prostate cancer

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Bowel cancer
Eye conditions
Bone density
Genetic conditions.

Things to remember
Men should see their doctor for regular
medical check-ups.
Screening tests help doctors to detect
many diseases such as cardiovascular
disease, diabetes and some cancers in
their early stages.
A man at high risk of a particular
disease should be regularly tested
regardless of his age.
This article is republished from
www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au