Men ages 18-39

Steps to take to being healthy: men ages 18-39

You should visit your doctor often, even if you feel healthy. The purpose of these visits is to: screen for health care issues, rate your risk for future health problems, support a healthy life and make sure you have all your shots. Help you get to know your doctor.

Blood pressure: Men aged 18 to 39 years with normal blood pressure who do not have other risks should be tested every 3 to 5 years.1

If you don’t take care of it, this health problem can cause strokes, heart attacks, kidney issues, eye issues, and heart failure.

Cholesterol testing: Men who are at risk of developing coronary artery disease should have their cholesterol checked every 5 years, beginning at age 18.

More frequent testing might be needed if you have other risks:

  • Have a family history of high cholesterol or heart attacks
  • Are overweight
  • Are physically inactive
  • Have diabetes
  • Eat an unhealthy diet
  • Smoke cigarettes.2

High cholesterol can put you at risk for heart disease, stroke, and blood flow issues.

Prostate cancer testing:

Cancer Screenings: Men who are at higher risk because of family history, genetic disorders, or other reasons, talk to your doctor about when you need to start testing and what tests are right for you.3

High blood sugar testing: If you are younger than 45 with risks, talk to your doctor about when you need to start testing.4

High blood sugar can strike at any age, and this test will depend on other things reviewed during a doctor visit.

  • Do you weigh more than is healthy?
  • Do you have high blood pressure?
  • Do you have a family past of high blood sugar?
  • What is your hemoglobin A1c level?
Eyesight exam icon

Eyesight exam: Men who are healthy and have no symptoms of vision problems, should have an eye exam every 5 to 10 years. Have your eyes checked more often if you have any risks.

An eye exam helps find eye problems at their earliest when they are most treatable.5

dental-exam icon

Dental exam: Yearly to bi-yearly dental visits are a vital part of good health. Dental services are one of many programs covered under Medi-Cal. Beneficiaries receive dental services through Denti-Cal. 

Immunizations: Men in this age range should keep in mind yearly flu shots, tetanus boosters (each 10 years), the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine, and the chicken pox shot.

1 USPSTF. Accessed on 3/26/20; 2 Mayo Clinic. Accessed on 3/26/20; 3 American Cancer Society. Accessed on 3/26/20; 4 WebMD. Accessed on 3/26/20; 5 Mayo Clinic. Accessed on 3/26/20.

Posted on May 24th, 2017 and last modified on October 18th, 2022.

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