Important Health Screening for Men Over the Age of 65
Even if you feel healthy and have few health issues, men over the age of 65 should visit their health care provider regularly. The purpose of these visits is to screen for future medical issues and address any current health problems or concerns you might have. Routine screening is an important component of these visits. Doctors will want to monitor you for signs of heart disease, high blood pressure, and other serious medical complications.
If you are unsure what type of screening is best for you, your first call should be to your primary healthcare provider. Your doctor will want to meet with you, perform a medical exam, and go through your medical history. It is also important to review your family history during this time. For example, if prostate cancer runs in your family, your doctor will want to know that you might be at a higher risk for developing prostate cancer.
Screening Guidelines for Men Over 65
- Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Screening. If you were a smoker and are over 65, an ultrasound is important to rule out abdominal aortic aneurysms.
- Heart Disease Screening. All men over the age of 65 should routinely have their cholesterol and blood pressure checked. High blood pressure and high cholesterol are precursors for a variety of serious illnesses and diseases, including heart disease.
- Colorectal Cancer Screening. Men under the age of 75 should undergo colorectal cancer screening. This involves yearly stool-based fecal occult blood tests, a stool SDNA-FIT test every 1-3 years, a flexible sigmoidoscopy every 5 years, and a colonoscopy every 10 years.
- Diabetes Screening. If you are over 65, it is important to undergo screening to check for the development of diabetes. This screening can be performed every 3 years unless you have other risk factors.
- Hearing Loss Screening. Routine hearing exams can check for hearing loss. If you begin to develop hearing loss, you may need to talk to your doctor about hearing aids.
- Glaucoma and Cataract Screening. Your eyes can change rapidly when you age. To prevent serious issues, seek an eye doctor yearly.
- Lung Cancer Screening. You should have yearly lung cancer screening with low-dose computed tomography if you are between 50 and 80 AND have a 20-pack year smoking history AND you currently smoke or quit within the last 15 years.
- Osteoporosis Screening. Many men over the age of 65 have risk factors for developing osteoporosis. You should check with your doctor about whether you need osteoporosis screening. Men over 70 should get a bone mineral density test.
- Prostate Cancer Screening. Men over 55 but under 70 should discuss prostate cancer screening with their doctor. If your doctor advises, you may need to have a PSA test yearly since prostate exams are no longer done on men with no symptoms.
Routine screening is a great way to find disease early so you can make the necessary lifestyle changes to reduce your risk. With early detection, you and your medical team can develop a treatment plan that will help you avoid unnecessary complications.
Call ImageCare Radiology Today
At ImageCare Radiology, we offer a wide variety of imaging services, including MRI, CT scans, bone density scans, and more. If your doctor has requested any type of imaging service to help you diagnose your issues, give us a call today at 973-871-3333 to schedule an appointment or complete our convenient online appointment request form.