Men – get checked! Preventive health checks for men over 60

Men – get checked! Preventive health checks for men over 60

What health problems do men over 60 face, and which preventive health checks should they have?

Chest pain is undoubtedly one of the most serious problems affecting older men. Its causes can vary considerably, and it should never be ignored.

Chest pain can pose a serious threat to both health and life. It may occur in stressful situations or during physical exertion and is often a symptom of coronary heart disease, a serious health condition.

A burning pain in the chest may be a symptom of a heart attack, which is usually  also accompanied by pain behind the breastbone, cold sweats, a feeling of anxiety, fever, breathing difficulties or  nausea. Sometimes a heart attack causes no symptoms at all, and men discover entirely by chance that they have had one. These painless heart attacks can occur in people with diabetes who have a reduced perception of pain.

The causes of chest pain can also be entirely different. It may arise, for example, from complications following flu, spinal conditions, peptic ulcer disease, pneumonia or a pneumothorax.

Whether or not a man experiences chest pain, he should have an ECG test at least once a year.  Additional tests used to assess heart function include: Holter ECG monitoring and a treadmill exercise stress test. A chest X-ray is also very important,  as it can help identify many conditions affecting the chest. Men who have reached the age of 60 (as well as younger men) should regularly check their blood pressure.

The basic laboratory tests used to assess general health are a full blood count with automated differential and the erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) – key tests for patients of all ages.

A doctor who specialises in treating heart disease is a cardiologist. Every older man should arrange a cardiology consultation so that the doctor can assess his health and heart function.

Older men, particularly smokers, often experience a chronic cough. This may be caused not only by smoking cigarettes but also by a very serious condition  known as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Men who frequently have a cough should  consult a respiratory specialist, who specialises in diagnosing and treating diseases of the respiratory system. The specialist may suggest spirometry with a written report. The result report is issued in Polish. This test is used to diagnose respiratory diseases and monitor their treatment, particularly asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Men who have reached the age of 60 may also experience difficulty passing urine. This may be caused by an infection of the urethra or bladder,  or by enlargement of the prostate gland. These problems should not be ignored, because untreated prostate enlargement can lead to dangerous complications such as inflammation, infections and kidney stones. A doctor who specialises in treating urinary tract diseases in men is a urologist, whom you should see at least once a year. It is worth knowing that prostate enlargement occurs in almost half of men over 60. Because benign prostate enlargement can resemble very serious diseases such as bowel cancer or prostate cancer, important tests for men include: prostate-specific antigen (PSA), a laboratory test that helps assess the risk of prostate enlargement or prostate cancer, and an abdominal ultrasound scan that includes an assessment of the prostate.

You can also buy a ready-made Prostate test package, which includes urinalysis, PSA and FPSA.

To diagnose or rule out diseases of the urinary and reproductive systems, it is particularly important to have urinalysis and a urine culture. Urological investigations should also include a creatinine level test, which indicates how well the kidneys are working. A laboratory test for uric acid is also helpful in diagnosing kidney disease. It can help identify not only kidney disease but also gout.

Men over 60 should not forget to have their total protein level tested, as this can help detect kidney disease, liver disease, bowel disease and serious skin conditions.

Another particularly important test for older men is a blood serum albumin level test. Albumin is a protein produced by liver cells. Measuring its level is important when jaundice, liver disease or nephrotic syndrome is suspected.

If liver disease is suspected in men over 60, a gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) test is also recommended. Together with the other liver function tests – ALT, AST and ALP, or alkaline phosphatase – and bilirubin, it indicates how well the liver and bile ducts are functioning.

Men who experience constipation and notice blood in their stool should have a faecal occult blood test as soon as possible. These symptoms may indicate conditions such as peptic ulcer disease, haemorrhoids, bleeding polyps or even bowel cancer. Another test that can help diagnose these problems is a colonoscopy, an endoscopic examination of the lower digestive tract.

Statistics show that one in five 60-year-olds has diabetes, so it is essential to remain particularly vigilant and monitor blood glucose levels regularly. The normal blood sugar range is 60 to 100 mg/dl (on an empty stomach). Men who are overweight or have obesity, atherosclerosis, hypertension or excessively high blood cholesterol are at the greatest risk of developing diabetes.

Every adult man should therefore have a lipid profile, also known as a cholesterol test, at a laboratory. This test assesses the risk of developing atherosclerosis, one of the main causes of cardiovascular disease. A lipid profile measures total cholesterol, HDL and LDL cholesterol, and triglycerides.

Men who have reached the age of 60 should remember to monitor their blood levels of vitamin D3 and calcium.

Measuring the blood level of vitamin D3 can help identify conditions including parathyroid dysfunction, kidney disease, liver disease, sarcoidosis, certain lymphomas, cancers, cardiovascular diseases and malabsorption disorders.

How dangerous is a low blood level of vitamin D3? – Find out more!

Men who have reached the age of 60 should have regular health checks. Medical consultations, diagnostic tests and preventive checks are all particularly important. Laboratory tests can be purchased together in a single Men’s 60+ test package, designed specifically for men who have reached the age of 60. Test packages and individual tests can be purchased from the BadamySie.pl medical services shop, where you can choose a collection point and book your tests without leaving home. The list of collection points and their blood collection hours can be found HERE.