Men’s Health Month: Are You Up to Date on These 6 Screenings?

You’ve mowed the lawn, run errands, answered emails, and caught up on game highlights. But have you made time for your health? June is Men’s Health Month — the perfect time to focus on your well-being and catch up on preventive care. Regular screenings can help identify health issues early, often before you notice any symptoms, making them easier to treat and less likely to impact your long-term health.

Use this checklist to stay on track with 6 important health screenings for men: 

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1. Yearly physical (Age 18+) – An annual wellness visit is an important way to stay on top of your overall health. During your checkup, your provider may monitor your blood pressure, weight and body mass index (BMI), review recommended vaccines like the flu shot, and discuss any health concerns or risk factors.
2. Cholesterol (Age 20+) – If you’re 20 or older and don’t have risk factors, get your cholesterol checked every four to six years. If you’re younger but have risk factors like smoking, high blood pressure, diabetes or a family history of heart disease, you may need to start earlier. Beginning at age 45, men should have this test every year.
3. Diabetes (Age 45+) – Most adults should start screening for diabetes every 3 years starting at age 45. If you’re younger but have high blood pressure, high cholesterol or other risk factors, you might need to start sooner. If you notice symptoms like increased thirst, frequent urination, tiredness or blurred vision, talk to your doctor about getting tested.
4. Colorectal cancer (Age 45+) – Starting at age 45, men should have a colonoscopy every 10 years. Your healthcare provider may recommend earlier or more frequent colonoscopies if you have a family history of colon cancer or specific risk factors.
5. Prostate cancer (Ages 50+) – Aside from skin cancer, prostate cancer is the most common cancer among men in the United States. Men age 50 and older should talk with their healthcare provider about the potential benefits and risks of screening based on their personal health history. Men at higher risk, including Black men and those with a family history of prostate cancer, may need to begin discussions earlier — at age 45, or as early as age 40 if more than one close relative was diagnosed before age 65. Learn more about prostate screening options
6. Mental health check-in (all adults) – When did you last check in on your mental health? Last week, last month, last year? Regardless of when it was, your emotional well-being shouldn’t be a side note. Mental health is an important part of overall health and is often overlooked. If you’ve been feeling persistently overwhelmed, irritable, anxious, withdrawn or not like yourself, talk with your healthcare provider. For those experiencing severe depression or anxiety, more intensive support options are available. Overlake’s Adult Partial Hospitalization Program is a voluntary day program that provides structured treatment and support without requiring an overnight stay. Learn more about our intensive therapy program

Ready to Catch Up on Screenings? 

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