Screening tests and vaccines are an important part of managing your health. A screening test is done to find possible disorders or diseases in people who don't have any symptoms. The goal is to find a disease early so lifestyle changes can be made and you can be watched more closely to reduce the risk of disease, or to detect it early enough to treat it most effectively. Screening tests are not considered diagnostic, but are used to determine if more testing is needed. Health counseling is essential, too. Below are guidelines for these, for men ages 40 to 49. Talk with your healthcare provider to make sure you’re up to date on what you need.
Screening
Who needs it
How often
Alcohol misuse
All men in this age group
At routine exams
Blood pressure
Yearly checkup if your blood pressure reading is normal
Normal blood pressure is less than 120/80 mm Hg
If your blood pressure is higher than normal, follow the advice of your healthcare provider
Depression
Type 2 diabetes or prediabetes
All men beginning at age 45 and men without symptoms at any age who are overweight or obese and have 1 or more other risk factors for diabetes
At least every 3 years (yearly if blood sugar has begun to rise)
Type 2 diabetes
All men with prediabetes
Every year
Hepatitis C
Men at increased risk for infection – talk with your healthcare provider
High cholesterol or triglycerides
All men ages 35 and older, and younger men at high risk for coronary artery disease
At least every 5 years
HIV
All men
Obesity
Prostate cancer
Starting at age 45, talk to healthcare provider about risks and benefits of digital rectal exam (DRE) and prostate-specific antigen (PSA) screening1
Colorectal cancer
Men at average risk 45 years and older
Multiple tests are available and are used at different times. Possible tests include:
Colonoscopy every 10 years, or
Flexible sigmoidoscopy every 5 years (or every 10 with yearly FIT stool test), or
CT colonography (virtual colonoscopy) every 5 years, or
Yearly fecal occult blood test, or
Yearly fecal immunochemical test (FIT) , or
Stool DNA test, every 1 to 3 years
You will need a follow-up with a colonoscopy if you choose a test other than a colonoscopy and have an abnormal test result. Talk with your healthcare provider about which tests are best for you.
Some people should be screened using a different schedule because of their personal or family health history. Talk with your healthcare provider about your health history.
Syphilis
Tuberculosis
Check with your healthcare provider
Vision
Every 2 to 4 years if no risk factors for eye disease2
Vaccine
Chickenpox (varicella)
All men in this age group who have no record of this infection or vaccine
2 doses; the second dose should be given at least 4 weeks after the first dose
Hepatitis A
2 doses given at least 6 months apart
Hepatitis B
3 doses over 6 months; second dose should be given 1 month after the first dose; the third dose should be given at least 2 months after the second dose and at least 4 months after the first dose
Haemophilus influenzae Type B (HIB)
1 to 3 doses
Influenza (flu)
Once a year
Measles, mumps, rubella (MMR)
All men in this age group who have no record of these infections or vaccines
1 or 2 doses
Meningococcal
1 or more doses
Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV13) and pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPSV23)
PCV13: 1 dose ages 19 to 65 (protects against 13 types of pneumococcal bacteria)
PPSV23: 1 to 2 doses through age 64, or 1 dose at 65 or older (protects against 23 types of pneumococcal bacteria)
Tetanus/diphtheria/pertussis (Td/Tdap) booster
Td every 10 years, or a one-time dose of Tdap instead of a Td booster after age 18, then Td every 10 years
Counseling
Diet and exercise
Men who are overweight or obese
When diagnosed, and then at routine exams
Sexually transmitted infection prevention
Use of daily aspirin
Men ages 45 to 79 at risk for cardiovascular health problems
Use of tobacco and the health effects it can cause
Every exam
1National Comprehensive Cancer Network
2American Academy of Ophthalmology