{"id":18313,"date":"2026-09-24T00:25:12","date_gmt":"2026-09-23T22:25:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.badania-medyczne.pl\/health-checks-for-men-over-40\/"},"modified":"2026-09-24T00:25:12","modified_gmt":"2026-09-23T22:25:12","slug":"health-checks-for-men-over-40","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.badania-medyczne.pl\/en\/health-checks-for-men-over-40\/","title":{"rendered":"Health Checks for Men Over 40: Which Tests to Have and How Often"},"content":{"rendered":"

Men visit doctors less often than women, undergo screening later and are more likely to enter the healthcare system only after a heart attack, diabetes with complications or advanced cancer. Mortality statistics in Poland are clear: men live several years less on average, and much of this difference is attributable to diseases that can be detected through blood tests years before symptoms appear. Turning 40 is a natural opportunity to establish a baseline for your health and develop a routine of annual check-ups. Below is a list of tests organised according to the conditions they help detect or prevent, with guidance on how often to repeat them. Test interpretation and treatment decisions should be made by a doctor.<\/p>\n

Heart and blood vessels: the biggest health risk after 40<\/h2>\n

Lipid profile<\/h3>\n

Lipid profile (cholesterol) – laboratory test measures total cholesterol, LDL, HDL and triglycerides, with non-HDL cholesterol and ApoB also increasingly included. LDL is the main modifiable risk factor for atherosclerosis. The target LDL level depends on your overall cardiovascular risk (below 115 mg\/dl for people without additional risk factors, and considerably lower for those at high risk). It is worth measuring lipoprotein(a)<\/strong> at least once in your lifetime. This inherited risk factor is independent of lifestyle and is elevated in approximately one-fifth of the population. Frequency: annually, or every 3 years if your results are optimal and you have no additional risk factors.<\/p>\n

Glucose and HbA1c<\/h3>\n

Type 2 diabetes can develop without symptoms for years, damaging blood vessels throughout that time. Have a fasting Glucose – laboratory test annually after the age of 45 (or earlier if you are overweight or have a family history of diabetes). Glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) provides additional information and does not require fasting.<\/p>\n

Creatinine with eGFR, uric acid and urinalysis<\/h3>\n

High blood pressure and diabetes can silently damage the kidneys. eGFR and albuminuria testing can detect kidney damage at a potentially reversible stage. Uric acid is a risk factor for hypertension, gout and kidney disease, and is often elevated in men over 40 because of diets rich in meat, alcohol and fructose. Useful investigations include Creatinine – laboratory test with eGFR, uric acid and Urinalysis.<\/p>\n

Homocysteine and high-sensitivity CRP<\/h3>\n

Additional tests for people with a family history of heart disease: high-sensitivity CRP (hs-CRP) can indicate chronic vascular inflammation, while homocysteine increases with folate and vitamin B12 deficiency and is associated with the risk of thrombosis.<\/p>\n

Liver health and metabolism<\/h2>\n

Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) – laboratory test, Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) – laboratory test and Gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) – laboratory test<\/strong> once a year. Fatty liver disease affects approximately one in three adult men and can be reversed by losing weight and reducing alcohol consumption. GGT is also a sensitive marker of excessive alcohol consumption. Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) – laboratory test<\/strong> every 2\u20133 years or if symptoms appear (fatigue, weight gain or low mood). 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25 OH) – vitamin D test<\/strong> in autumn, because vitamin D deficiency is widespread in Poland and affects muscles, bones and immune function.<\/p>\n

Hormones: testosterone and related tests<\/h2>\n

After the age of 40, testosterone levels decline by an average of approximately 1% per year. However, in healthy, lean men, levels often remain normal well into old age. Symptoms of deficiency (reduced libido, erectile dysfunction, loss of muscle mass, increased abdominal fat, low mood and fatigue) are non-specific and more commonly result from obesity, sleep apnoea, diabetes or depression than from so-called ‘andropause’. Investigation begins with a Total testosterone – laboratory test<\/strong>, performed in the morning (7:00\u201310:00), after fasting and a good night’s sleep. A low result should be confirmed by a second measurement. Additional tests include SHBG<\/strong> (used to calculate free testosterone), LH and FSH<\/strong> (to distinguish a testicular problem from a pituitary disorder), Prolactin – laboratory test<\/strong> and Oestradiol – laboratory test<\/strong>. Testosterone treatment without confirmed deficiency can be harmful: it increases haematocrit, lowers HDL, may worsen sleep apnoea and may accelerate the growth of prostate cancer.<\/p>\n

Prostate health: PSA<\/h2>\n

Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels increase in prostate cancer, but also with benign prostate enlargement, inflammation, following sexual intercourse, cycling and a digital rectal examination. PSA is therefore not a definitive ‘cancer test’, but one component of an assessment conducted by a urologist, alongside a physical examination, the free PSA ratio and, where appropriate, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Recommendations: an initial PSA test at the age of 45\u201350 (from 40 if your father or brother has had prostate cancer), followed by testing every 1\u20132 years depending on the baseline result. Before testing: avoid ejaculation, cycling and a digital rectal examination for 48 hours, and do not undergo testing during a urinary tract infection.<\/p>\n

Blood, iron and bowel health<\/h2>\n

Full blood count<\/strong> once a year. Iron deficiency anaemia in men is always a warning sign: a common cause is chronic gastrointestinal blood loss (ulcers, polyps or bowel cancer). Therefore, low ferritin in men should prompt investigation rather than supplementation alone. Faecal occult blood testing<\/strong> (faecal immunochemical test, FIT) every 1\u20132 years from the age of 50, and screening colonoscopy once every 10 years or according to the NFZ (Narodowy Fundusz Zdrowia, Poland’s National Health Fund, which finances public healthcare) screening programme. Screening should begin earlier if you have a relevant family history.<\/p>\n

Non-laboratory health checks you should not overlook<\/h2>\n