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    Prevention Guidelines for Men 50 to 64

    Here are the screening tests and immunizations that most men ages 50 to 64 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

    Colorectal cancer

    All men of average risk in this age group

    According to the American Cancer Society:

    Several tests are available and used at different times.

    For tests that find polyps and cancer:

    • Flexible sigmoidoscopy every 5 years1, or

    • Colonoscopy every 10 years, or

    • CT colonography (virtual colonoscopy) every 5 years

    For tests that primarily find cancer:

    • Yearly fecal occult blood test2, or

    • Yearly fecal immunochemical test every year2, or

    • Stool DNA test, every 3 years

     You will need a follow-up colonoscopy if you choose any test other than a colonoscopy and you have an abnormal result. Screening recommendations vary among expert groups. Talk with your healthcare provider about which test is best for you. Some people should be screened using a different schedule because of their personal or family history. Talk with your provider about your health history.

    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

    Type 2 diabetes

    All men with prediabetes

    Every year

    Hepatitis C

    Men at increased risk for infection – talk with your healthcare provider

    At routine exams (All men age 50 to 70 should be tested once for hepatitis C.)

    High cholesterol and triglycerides

    All adults

    At least every 5 years

    HIV

    All men

    At routine exams

    Lung cancer

    Adults age 50 to 80 who have smoked

    Yearly screening in smokers with 20 pack-year history of smoking or who quit within 15 years

    Obesity

    Anyone at increased risk

    At routine exams

    BMI (body mass index)

    All men in this age group (3)

    Every year, to help find out if you are at a healthy weight for your height

    Prostate cancer

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

    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 men in this age goupr3

    • Men ages 40 to 54: every 2 to 4 years if no risk factors for eye disease

    • Men ages 55 to 64: every 1 to 3 years if no risk factors for eye disease

    Ask  your healthcare provider if you need glaucoma screening with a dilated eye exam every 2 years

    Counseling

    Who needs it

    How often

    Aspirin for primary prevention of cardiovascular events

    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

    Diet and exercise

    Adults who are overweight or obese

    When diagnosed and 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 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)

    Men in this age group through their late 50s who have no previous infection or record of vaccines**

    1 or 2 doses; check with your healthcare provider

    Chickenpox (varicella)

    Adults ages 50 to 64 who have no previous infection or record of vaccines**

    2 doses; 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

    Men at risk4

    2 or 3 doses (depending on the vaccine) given at least 6 months apart; check with your healthcare provider

    Hepatitis B

    Men at risk5

    2 or 3 doses (depending on the vaccine) over 6 months; check with your healthcare provider. 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 and at least 4 months after the first dose.

    Haemophilus influenzae Type B (HIB)

    People at risk

    1 to 3 doses

    Meningococcal ACWY (MenACWY)

    People at risk**

    1 or more doses, depending on your case, then a booster every 5 years if you are still at risk; check with your healthcare provider

    Meningococcal B (MenB)

    People at risk

    2 or more doses, depending on the vaccine and your case; check with your healthcare provider

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

    People at risk6

    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)

     

    Zoster recombinant (RZV)

    All men ages 50 and older**

    2 doses given 2 to 6 months apart

    Zoster live (ZVL)

    All men ages 60 and older

    1 dose

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

    **Exceptions may exist; talk with your healthcare provider

    ***National Comprehensive Cancer Network

    1If the test is positive, a colonoscopy should be done

    2The multiple stool take-home test should be used. One test done by the healthcare provider in the office is not adequate for testing. A colonoscopy should be done if the test is positive.

    3Recommendation from the American Academy of Ophthalmology

    4For complete list, see the CDC website

    5For complete list, see the CDC website

    6For complete list, see the CDC website

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

    Immunization schedule from the CDC

    Online Medical Reviewer: Pierce-Smith, Daphne, RN, MSN, CCRC
    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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