Preventive Tests Key to Good Health For Men

wellness-programs/index.html">Preventive tests are as important for men as they are for women. Fortunately, reliable screenings are available for many of the health problems that primarily afflict men.

Prostate Cancer Screening – A blood test measures Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) levels in the blood. While PSA is usually presenting the blood, the presence of prostate cancer can cause it to rise. This preventive test is recommended for men age 50-70, or earlier for men with a higher risk of prostate cancer.

Colon Cancer Screening – Doctors recommend screening for colon cancer after age 50. This is done by colonoscopy, a procedure in which a fiber optic tube is inserted through the anus and up into the colon. This is the most thorough screen for colon cancer.

High Cholesterol Screening – A simple blood test measures your levels of good (HDL) and bad (LDL) cholesterol and determines if they are healthy.