Oil changes, tire rotations, annual tune-ups—men keep plenty of things running on schedule. Your body deserves the same attention. Here’s what to check, when to check it, and why waiting for a warning light isn’t a health plan.
You know it’s true.
Guys will spend 20 minutes investigating a mysterious noise coming from a truck tire and six months pretending the mysterious pain in their side is probably nothing.
Consider this a reminder—all maintenance matters, especially when it comes to men’s health.
Health screenings can catch problems before symptoms appear, and what belongs on your checklist changes as you age. Family history, lifestyle, and other risk factors can move that timetable up, so these guidelines are a starting point—not a substitute for a conversation with your healthcare provider.
In Your 20s and 30s
This is when the baseline matters. Check blood pressure regularly, along with cholesterol and other cardiovascular risk factors as appropriate. Depending on your weight and risk factors, your provider may also recommend diabetes screening.
And don’t skip mental health. Depression can affect anyone, and screening is part of preventive care. If something feels off—physically or mentally—say something.
In Your 40s
Welcome to the decade when “I feel fine” stops being a comprehensive health plan.
At 45, male adults at average risk should begin colorectal cancer screening. Options go beyond the traditional colonoscopy, so talk with your provider about which screening method and schedule are appropriate for you.
This is also a good time to understand your prostate cancer risk. Men at higher risk, including Black men and those with a family history, should begin discussing prostate screening with their healthcare provider at 45—or as early as 40 for some men at particularly elevated risk.
In Your 50s
Keep up with blood pressure, cholesterol, diabetes, and colorectal screening. Average-risk men should talk with their healthcare provider about the benefits and limitations of prostate cancer screening beginning at 50.
Smoking history matters, too. Adults ages 50 to 80 with a significant smoking history may qualify for annual low-dose CT screening for lung cancer.
In Your 60s and Beyond
Everything above still matters, but another screening enters the preventative conversation. Men ages 65 to 75 who smoked should receive a one-time ultrasound screening for abdominal aortic aneurysm, a potentially dangerous enlargement of the body’s main artery.
And at every age, keep vaccinations current, and don’t treat your annual checkup like an optional meeting. The goal isn’t to find something wrong. It’s to stay ahead—because the best time to deal with a health problem is often before you even know it’s there.
