Men’s Health Tune-Up Schedule: Medical Tests

Not one for annual checkups? OK, but you still need these medical tests and exams.

By Richard Sine
WebMD Feature

Reviewed by Matthew Hoffman, MD, MD

Men rarely see Thomas J. Weida, MD, for medical tests without prodding from a wife or girlfriend. When they do show up, Weida jokes that he “can see the drag marks on the carpet.”

It’s amusing, of course. But it can quickly turn serious when a man ignores important symptoms. Weida says he knows of men who got away with ignoring chest pain for a couple of weeks. Eventually, though, they died of heart attacks.

Why won’t men go to the doctor?

Doctors WebMD posed that question to cited a number of possible reasons men avoid doctor visits. Among those reasons were stoicism, high cost, busy schedules, the challenge of getting an appointment, or the embarrassing possibility of the digital rectal exam. Another theory about why men don’t go is that women get more accustomed to visiting doctors than men do. They go to doctors because of pregnancy. And they are more often the parent who takes the children for medical appointments.

Of course, some men might simply be afraid of what a doctor might say. Millions of men are still smoking, eating poorly, drinking too much, or not exercising. They often pay for these bad habits because those habits can have severe consequences for their health.

The question of what to do about men’s reluctance to see a doctor has bedeviled health professionals for decades. Complicating it is the debate within the medical community about whether an annual checkup is really the best way to deal with problems stemming from lifestyle choices.

Surveys show that many doctors and patients still believe in the power of the annual exam. But back in 1995, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, an expert panel convened by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, rejected the idea that the standard annual physical exam is an effective tool for improving the health of patients. What the panel did say was that the content and frequency of periodic health exams needed to be “tailored to the age, health risks, and preferences of each patient.”

Also, the task force found little evidence of important benefits from certain routine tests that were regularly included as part of an annual exam. These tests included blood tests for diabetes, thyroid diseases, or anemia; chest x-rays; electrocardiograms; and urine tests. Instead, the panel said doctors and nurses should deliver prevention messages about personal health

Develop a strong relationship with your doctor

Rick Kellerman, MD, is president of the American Academy of Family Physicians. He tells WebMD it’s more important to establish “a medical home” than to have a yearly checkup. By that, he means establishing a relationship with a “physician you know and trust and who knows your medical history.” This physician, he says, can then choose steps for prevention that meet your particular needs. 

Develop a strong relationship with your doctor continued...

Kellerman says that patients who establish strong relationships with their doctors are more likely to receive appropriate medication when they need it. They are also less likely to be subjected to needless and costly medical test. Weida adds they’re also more likely to call or make an appointment when they do have a problem.

The most important consideration when choosing a primary care physician, Kellerman says, is how well you communicate with him or her. If you don’t feel comfortable talking to your doctor, choose a new one. Another important consideration is how accessible the doctor is. If you have an acute problem, will the doctor be able to see you that day?

Be on the lookout for specific health conditions

Though an annual checkup may not be required, men do need to be on the lookout for certain conditions as they age. The following list of “musts” and “maybes” distinguishes the medical tests that virtually all men should have from those that depend more on personal and family history.

To create the list, we used recommendations from the evidence-based guidelines of the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. We also asked for recommendations from physicians consulted by WebMD. Your own doctor may recommend more -- or fewer – tests, depending on your medical history.

Must-have medical tests

The following is a list of tests that every man should have performed routinely:

Maybe medical tests

You may or may not need the following tests. It all depends on your particular situation.

 

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