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    Health Screening Guidelines for Men 65+

    Screening tests and health counseling are an important part of managing your health. A screening test is done to find diseases in people who don't have any symptoms. The goal is to find a disease early so lifestyle changes and checkups can reduce the risk of disease. Or the goal may be to find it early to treat it most effectively. Screening tests are not used to diagnose a disease. But they are used to see if more testing is needed. Below are guidelines for these, for men ages 65 and older. Talk with your healthcare provider about which tests are best for you and to make sure you’re up to date on what you need.

    Screening

    Who needs it

    How often

    Abdominal aortic aneurysm

    Men ages 65 to 75 who have ever smoked. Men in this age group who have never smoked could still be offered screening, depending on their family history, medical history, or other risk factors they may have.

    One-time ultrasound screening

    Alcohol use or misuse

    All men in this age group

    At routine exams

    Blood pressure

    All men in this age group

    Yearly checkup if your blood pressure is normal

    Normal blood pressure is less than 120/80 mm Hg

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

    Colorectal cancer

    All men at average risk in this age group through age 75 who are in good health. For men ages 76 to 85, talk with your healthcare provider to see if you should continue screening. For men 85 and older, screening is not advised.

    Several tests are available and are used at different times.

    For tests that find polyps and cancer:

    • Colonoscopy every 10 years (recommended), or

    • Flexible sigmoidoscopy every 5 years, or

    • CT colonography (virtual colonoscopy) every 5 years

    For tests that mainly find cancer:

    • Yearly fecal occult blood test, or

    • Yearly fecal immunochemical test, or

    • Stool DNA test every 3 years

    If you choose a test other than a colonoscopy and have an abnormal test result, you will need to have a colonoscopy. Screening recommendations vary among expert groups. Talk with your healthcare provider 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 healthcare provider about your health history.

    Depression

    All men in this age group

    At routine exams

    Type 2 diabetes or prediabetes

    All men starting at age 45 and men without symptoms at any age who are overweight or obese and have one or more risk factors for diabetes

    At least every 3 years (annual testing if your blood sugar has begun to rise)

    Type 2 diabetes

    All men with prediabetes

    Every year

    Hepatitis C

    At least once in a lifetime; anyone at increased risk for infection

    At routine exams

    High cholesterol and triglycerides

    All men in this age group

    Every 4 to 6 years for normal-risk adults. Some people with elevated risk factors should be screened more often. Talk with your healthcare provider for more information.

    HIV

    Anyone at increased risk for infection

    At routine exams

    Lung cancer

    Men between the ages of 50 to 80 who are in fairly good health and are at higher risk for lung cancer who:

    • Currently smoke or have quit within the past 15 years, and

    • Have a 20-pack year history of smoking (1 pack/day for 20 years or 2 packs/day for 10 years)

    Yearly lung cancer screening with a low-dose CT scan (LDCT); talk with your healthcare provider about your risk and situation

    Obesity

    All adults

    At routine exams. talk with your healthcare provider if your BMI is 30 or higher

    Prostate cancer

    Men aged 55 to 69, talk to healthcare provider about risks and benefits of digital rectal exam (DRE) and prostate-specific antigen (PSA) screening. PSA screening is not routinely recommended in men ages 70 and older.

    At routine exams

    Syphilis

    Anyone at increased risk for infection

    At routine exams

    Tuberculosis

    Anyone at increased risk for infection

    Check with your healthcare provider

    Vision

    All adults

    Every 1 to 2 years. If you have a chronic disease, ask your healthcare provider how often you need an exam.

    Counseling

    Who needs it

    How often

    Diet and exercise

    Adults who are overweight or obese

    When diagnosed and at routine exams

    Fall prevention (exercise, vitamin D supplements)

    All men in this age group

    At routine exams

    Sexually transmitted infection prevention

    Anyone at increased risk for infection

    At routine exams

    Tobacco use and tobacco-related disease

    All adults

    Every visit

    Online Medical Reviewer: Heather M Trevino BSN RNC
    Online Medical Reviewer: L Renee Watson MSN RN
    Online Medical Reviewer: Rita Sather RN
    Date Last Reviewed: 1/1/2024
    © 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

    Disclaimer