Do you know what's under your bonnet?

Your body is just like a car. If you keep it well tuned you will get much more mileage out of it. Many diseases that may lead to premature death are nowadays preventable through regular health checks and adopting a healthy lifestyle. What is more, the early detection of diseases, often before symptoms are obvious, usually prevents more serious problems arising.

What is a Men's Health Check?

A “Men’s Health Check” is an overall health assessment that will enable you and your doctor to identify current and potential health problems.

What will happen?

You and your doctor will discuss your medical history and your family’s medical history. You will also discuss your lifestyle and the ways it affects your health. This will include diet, exercise and ways of dealing with stress.

Your doctor may include a heart, prostate and diabetes risk assessment. You may be required to come back a couple of times over a 6-week period to cover all this information. Your doctor will explain this to you.

Which tests?

Regular health checks with your GP During your Men’s Health Check your doctor will take a thorough medical history of you and your family. The check will also involve a medical examination that might include:

Blood tests to check your cholesterol and blood sugar levels
A height, weight, eye and ear check
A prostate check
Skin lesion and mole check
Bone density testing, depending on your age (for osteoporosis)

There will also be an opportunity for you and your doctor to develop plans for:

exercise,
weight reduction,
healthy eating and
managing stress.

Or even address other health concerns:

hair loss,
impotence,
depression,
arthritis and
relationship issues.

The men’s health partnership

It has been identified that the way doctors and men best work together is as a partnership. Your doctor is available to work with you to develop a long-term health plan. You may not need a complete Men’s Health Check but a little maintenance may be helpful in the long run. The following health checklist is only meant as a guideline. Tests and screening procedures that you may need will depend upon your individual risks, your
age, and your family history.

Talk to your GP and find out what is needed to maintain your health.

Men Aged 18 to 39	Physical exam by your GP every two years, including Blood Pressure checks, height and weight Cholesterol (test for cardiovascular disease) Baseline reading in your 20’s with follow-up tests as recommended by your GP Blood glucose (to test for diabetes) if you have high blood pressure and high cholesterol Skin exam every year (screening for skin cancer) especially in men who have a high exposure to the sun and other risk factors Dental exam and cleaning every year Self-examination of testicles for lumps Immunisation review every 10 years
Men Aged 40 to 49	Physical exam by your GP every year, including blood pressure checks, height and weight. Regular cholesterol screening (test for cardiovascular disease) at least every 5 years or at your health care provider’s discretion Blood glucose (to test for diabetes) if you have high blood pressure and high cholesterol.Skin exam every year (screening for skin cancer) especially in men who have a high exposure to the sun and other risk factors Dental exam and cleaning every year Self-examination of testicles for lumps Immunisation review every 10 years
Men Aged 50 to 64	Physical exam by your GP every year including blood pressure checks, height and weight Regular cholesterol test (for cardiovascular disease) at least every 5 years or at your GPs advice ECG (heart trace) every 3 – 5 years as recommended by your GP Test for diabetes (fasting blood sugar) every 3 years Screening for bowel cancer every 2 years including colonoscopy every three to four years as recommended by your GP Prostate checks annually. To test for prostate cancer as recommended by your GP Skin exam annually as part of the physical exam (screening for skin cancer) Bone density test as recommended by the GP Eye vision test annually Dental exam and cleaning every year Immunisation review every 10 years
Men Aged 65 years and over	Physical exam by your GP every year including blood pressure checks, height and weight Cholesterol test every year at your health care providers discretion ( for cardiovascular disease) ECG (heart trace) every 3 – 5 years or as recommended by your GP Test for diabetes (fasting blood sugar) every 3 years Prostate checks annually. To test for prostate cancer as recommended by your GP Screening for bowel cancer every 2 years including colonoscopy every three to four years as recommended by your GP Skin exam annually as part of the physical exam (screening for skin cancer) Bone density test as recommended by the GP Flu shot & Eye vision test annually Hearing screen every two years Pneumonia vaccination at 65 then as recommended by GP Dental exam and cleaning every year as recommended by GP

So check under your bonnet and keep your engines revved so you can continue to live life in the fast lane ..... and don't forget if you have any questions you can always speak to your friendly pharmacist!