Essential Screenings for Men Before 40

On this International Men’s Day, men should consider the importance of regular health screenings. Certain conditions are common in men before 40, like high blood pressure, high cholesterol, etc. By getting regularly tested for these conditions, men can catch any problems early and seek medical attention. This helps to avoid any future complications and increases quality of life.

Here’s a list of eight essential screenings for men before age 40.

1. Lung Cancer

Men who smoke are at a higher risk of lung cancer. Being exposed to second-hand smoke can also elevate the risk of lung cancer. Avoiding smoking and regular exposure to second-hand smoke lowers lung cancer risk.

The screening test for lung cancer is the low-dose CT scan or LDCT scan, which takes pictures of the lungs. This screening test is recommended for those who smoke, have quit in the last 15 years or have a history of smoking 20 packs per day.

2. Prostate Cancer

Cancer in the prostate gland is one of the most prevalent cancers in men. The prostate is a small, walnut-like gland in men that produces fluids necessary for transporting sperm. Prostate cancer is usually a slow-growing cancer. However, some types can be fast-growing or aggressive.

Prostate cancer screening can help find the cancer early when the treatment is more manageable. The two main tests for detecting prostate cancer are:

Digital rectal exam (DRE)
Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test

Men under the age of 40 with a family history of prostate cancer should consult a doctor regarding the prostate cancer screening test most suitable for them.

3. Testicular Cancer

Testicular cancer is another common cancer in men below the age of 40. Testicular cancer is an abnormal cell growth in the testicles and causes no significant symptoms, making it hard to detect in time.
The prognosis of testicular cancer is good if detected early. Doctors recommend testicular cancer screening in every full body checkup for males.

4. Skin Cancer

Skin cancer is another common cancer found in men. There are several types of skin cancer, with the most dangerous being melanoma. Two of the most prevalent forms of this cancer are squamous cell and melanoma basal cell skin cancer. Risk factors for skin cancer consist of sun exposure, sunburns, and tanning.
Treatment for skin cancer is more effective when detected early. During a skin cancer screening, doctors look for changes in the skin, such as changes in the shape, size, or colour of marks.

5. Hypertension

The risk of developing hypertension depends upon men’s age, weight and lifestyle. Hypertension does not have any typical symptoms, and most people who have it don’t know about it. When left untreated, it can lead to several complications, such as heart disease, kidney problems and stroke. The blood pressure test consists of two readings: systolic over diastolic (systolic/diastolic). The systolic reading gives the pressure in the arteries during a heartbeat, while the diastolic reading gives the pressure between two heartbeats. A systolic reading of lower than 120 and a diastolic reading of below 80 are considered normal for men below 40.

6. Cholesterol

A high level of LDL cholesterol, also known as bad cholesterol in the blood, can clog the walls of the arteries due to the accumulation of plaque. This elevates the risk of heart disease and can result in heart failure or stroke in the long term. Bad cholesterol levels in the blood can be lowered through lifestyle changes and medication.

A cholesterol blood test looks for LDL (bad) cholesterol, HDL (good) cholesterol and triglycerides. Normal values are:

LDL cholesterol below 100 mg/dL
HDL cholesterol: 40 to 60 mg/dL
Triglycerides: Less than 150 mg/dL

7. HPV Infection

Sexually active men are at risk of getting HPV infection. HPV stands for hyper papilloma virus. It causes genital warts in men and can increase the risk of genital cancers. Cancer-causing HPV does not usually cause any symptoms. HPV testing for men includes looking for the presence of genital warts. The doctors can also use vinegar to identify genital warts that are not raised.

8. Type 2 Diabetes

Diabetes leads to high blood glucose or sugar. If not treated, it can lead to complications like heart disease, blindness, heart stroke and impotence.

Screening for diabetes includes random sugar test, fasting sugar test and A1C test. The normal levels for these tests are:

Random sugar test: Less than 200 mg/dL
Fasting sugar test: Less than 100mg/dL
A1C test: Below 5.7%

Regular health checkups are part of a healthy lifestyle. The eight health screenings given here are essential for men under 40 to detect common conditions early, begin treatment, and avoid serious complications. If someone under 40 has not had consistent health checkups, they should consult a doctor and book a full body test at Dr Lal PathLabs.