June is Men’s Health Awareness Month and Intermountain Health experts are reminding men to be proactive about their health by getting their annual checkups, regular screenings, and vaccinations, in partnership with their primary care provider.
“At Intermountain Health, we believe good health starts with primary care teamwork,” said Nathan Merriman, M.D., senior medical director of surgical specialties digestive health for Intermountain Health Clinical Programs. “Intermountain Health offers convenient primary care for all ages – from newborns to seniors – including annual exams, vaccinations, and chronic condition management for patients across the Intermountain West,” Merriman said.
In the past seeing a primary care provider for an annual physical or checkup may have been seen as something for older men, but doctors recommend regular health screenings for men starting in their early 20s.
Additionally, preventative screenings like an annual physical are usually covered by insurance.
Studies have shown the importance for men – and women – to check-in regularly with their primary care provider to maintain good health throughout their lives, from their 20s through their senior years.
Key screenings for men by age:
- 20s–30s: Blood pressure, cholesterol, mental health.
- 40s: Diabetes, prostate discussion, colon cancer (starting at 45).
- 50s+: Heart health, cancer screenings, vaccines (shingles, pneumonia).
“Previously, age 50 was often the age recommended to men to come in and screen for prostate and colon cancers,” Merriman said. “But the age recommendations have changed to age 45 for colon cancer now for patients with average risk. Depending on your family history, we want to make sure we personalize recommendations to each patient which could include starting 10 years younger than the youngest age of colon cancer in the family. As an example, if a parent had colon cancer at age 40, then each of their children should start with a high risk screening colonoscopy at age 30.”
If we can condition ourselves to do yearly medical check-ups and not be afraid to talk with our primary care team member about our health concerns then these issues can be caught early,
–Nathan Merriman, M.D., Intermountain Health Clinical Programs
Regular bloodwork to monitor cholesterol levels should be conducted for men starting in their 20s. Other lab tests can also be done to look for other issues that may not be symptomatic. One other important cancer to screen for in Utah is skin cancer with regular skin exams.
“If we can condition ourselves to do yearly medical check-ups and not be afraid to talk with our primary care team member about our health concerns then these issues can be caught early,” Merriman said.
While a lot of men in their 20s and 30s still feel young enough to be invincible, Merriman said the benefit of being proactive with basic health screening is teamwork with primary care and specialty care teams who can improve the quality and longevity of life.
“Yearly visits don’t have to be long or complicated, but it’s also a time when men can speak honestly with their primary care team about both their physical and mental health,” Merriman said. “It’s important for our patients to know that we are your healthcare teammates, and we would like to help ensure you are being proactive with your health and getting any help you need for new symptoms.”
However, he also said men need to think about their heart health — cholesterol, blood pressure, and weight — as well as keeping an eye on their glucose levels for signs of diabetes and asking family members about health conditions that run in the family as well.
Merriman reminded everyone that vaccinations are important for all of us. Adults need to be caught up on pneumococcal, hepatitis, shingles, and influenza vaccines.
For more information on primary care options at Intermountain Health, annual screenings or to find a primary care provider, click here.
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