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    Prevention Guidelines for Men 40 to 49

    Here are the screening tests and immunizations that most men ages 40 to 49 need. 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. Although you and your healthcare provider may decide that a different schedule is best for you, this plan can guide your discussion.

    Screening

    Who needs it

    How often

    Alcohol misuse

    All adults

    At routine exams

    Blood pressure

    All adults

    Yearly checkup if your blood pressure is normal*

    Normal blood pressure is less than 120/80 mm Hg*

    If your blood pressure reading is higher than normal, follow the advice of your healthcare provider

    Depression

    All men in this age group

    At routine exams

    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 additional risk factors for diabetes

    At least every 3 years (annually if blood sugar is already rising)

    Type 2 diabetes

    All men with prediabetes

    Every year

    Hepatitis C

    Anyone at increased risk

    At routine exams

    HIV

    All men

    At routine exams

    High cholesterol and triglycerides

    All men ages 35 and older, and younger men at high risk for coronary artery disease

    At least every 5 years

    Obesity

    All adults

    At routine exams

    Prostate cancer

    Starting at age 45, talk to healthcare provider about risks and benefits of digital rectal exam (DRE) and prostate-specific antigen (PSA) screening***

    At routine exams

    Colorectal cancer

    Men of average risk ages 45 and older

    Several tests are available and used at different times.

    Possible tests include:

    • Colonoscopy every 10 years, or

    • Flexible sigmoidoscopy every 5 years (or every 10 years with yearly FIT stool test), or

    • CT colonography (virtual colonoscopy) every 5 years, or

    • Colonoscopy every 10 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 colonoscopy if you choose any test other than a colonoscopy and you have an abnormal result. Talk with your doctor 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 provider about your health history.

    Syphilis

    Anyone at increased risk for infection

    At routine exams

    Tuberculosis

    Anyone at increased risk for infection

    Check with your healthcare provider

    Vision

    All adults1

    Every 2 to 4 years if no risk factors for eye disease

    Counseling

    Who needs it

    How often

    Diet and exercise,

    Adults who are overweight or obese

    When diagnosed and at routine exams

    Aspirin for primary prevention of cardiovascular problems

    Men ages 45 to 79, when potential benefits from a decrease in heart attacks outweigh the harm or risks from an increase in gastrointestinal hemorrhage

    When diagnosed with risk for cardiovascular/heart disease; check with your healthcare provider before starting

    Sexually transmitted infection prevention

    Anyone at increased risk for infection

    At routine exams

    Tobacco use and tobacco-related disease

    All adults

    Every exam

    Immunization

    Who needs it

    How often

    Tetanus/diphtheria/
    pertussis (Td/Tdap) booster

    All adults

    Td: every 10 years

    Tdap: substitute a 1-time dose of Tdap for a Td booster after age 18, then boost with Td every 10 years

    Measles, mumps, rubella (MMR)

    All adults in this age group who have no record of previous infection or vaccines**

    1 or 2 doses

    Chickenpox (varicella)

    All adults in this age group who have no record of previous infection or vaccines**

    2 doses; the second dose should be given at least 4 weeks after the first dose

    Flu (seasonal)

    All adults

    Yearly, when the vaccine becomes available in the community

    Hepatitis A

    People at risk 2

    2 doses given at least 6 months apart

    Hepatitis B

    People at risk 3

    3 doses; the second dose should be given 1 month after the first dose, and the third dose should be given at least 2 months after the second dose (or at least 4 months after the first dose)

    Haemophilus influenza Type B (HIB)

    People at risk

    1 to 3 doses

    Meningococcal

    People at risk**

    1 or more doses

    Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV13) and pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPSV23)

    People at risk 4

    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)

     

    *Recommendation from the American College of Cardiology and the American Heart Association Task Force on Clinical Practice Guidelines

    **Exceptions may exist; discuss with your healthcare provider

    ***National Comprehensive Cancer Network

    1Recommendation from the American Academy of Ophthalmology

    2For complete list, see the CDC website

    3For complete list, see the CDC website

    4For complete list, see the CDC website

    Screening guidelines from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force

    Immunization schedule from the CDC

    Online Medical Reviewer: Fraser, Marianne, MSN, RN
    Online Medical Reviewer: Hurd, Robert, MD
    Online Medical Reviewer: Watson, L Renee, MSN, RN
    Date Last Reviewed: 2/1/2023
    © 2000-2024 The StayWell Company, LLC. All rights reserved. This information is not intended as a substitute for professional medical care. Always follow your healthcare professional's instructions.
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    Southern New Mexico
    Surgery Center

    2301 Indian Wells Rd. Suite B
    Alamogordo, NM 88310
    www.snmsc.org

    Phone: 575.437.0890
    Fax: 575.437.0905
    Email: info@snmsc.org

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