A visit to the doctor is a process that people are accustomed to postpone "for later" and seek advice only when the disease has made itself known.
In this regard, routine examination is a very necessary procedure that will help to control your condition, because it is much easier to solve a problem in its infancy than to treat it. Especially after the age of 50, when any minor deviation from the norm today, tomorrow can turn into a serious pathology.
For those 50 and older, consider these 10 medical examinations that should be done annually, even if you're not in pain:
Biochemical blood analysis
For timely diagnosis of age-related diseases, making a decision on the tactics of further examination and treatment, first of all it is necessary to take a clinical and biochemical blood test. It will reveal:
- disorders of the function of hematopoiesis;
- various anemias;
- chronic inflammatory processes;
- assess the function of the liver and internal organs;
- assess the state of carbohydrate metabolism.
Blood glucose
Fasting blood glucose is an important test to help detect diabetes early. These blood tests should be done every five years until the age of 40 and then annually.
Urinalysis
General urine analysis will be able to tell about the presence of pathology in the kidneys, intestines, disturbed metabolism. And biochemical analysis will be able to name a specific disease: liver cirrhosis, hepatitis, diabetes mellitus, kidney infarction and others.
Cholesterol testing
Determines impaired fat metabolism and risk of atherosclerosis; includes indicators such as:
- total cholesterol;
- high-density lipoproteins, the so-called "good cholesterol".
- low-density lipoproteins, the so-called "bad cholesterol";
- triglycerides.
Homocysteine test
Blood test for homocysteine is a marker of atherosclerosis, the development of age-related Alzheimer's disease, senile dementia and dementia. Against the background of elevated homocysteine, blood vessels are affected. The level of homocysteine should be checked after 40, and even more so after 50 years of age, even in the absence of complaints.
Vitamin D test
Vitamin D testing after the age of 50 is mandatory. It is recommended for monitoring bone health, as well as for autoimmune diseases, psoriasis, asthma and other chronic diseases.
Hormone tests
Every man over 50 should have his testosterone and thyroid hormones checked regularly.
Blood tests for thyroid function should be done first around age 20, then every five years until age 60, then annually. Poor activity of this gland can lead to depression, increased cholesterol, constipation.
Testosterone can drop around age 40 or even earlier, and one of the signs can be weight gain. In addition, a hormonal imbalance can make it harder for men to cope with stress and make them feel exhausted, anxious, irritable and less interested in sex. Testosterone influences muscle size and bone strength and plays an important role in sex drive and sperm production.
Oncologic markers
Cancer marker testing is extremely important after age 50. For men, the prostate cancer marker is prostate-specific antigen, or PSA. It can detect:
- prostate problems in men;
- the risk of developing prostate cancer.
Fecal occult blood test
Fecal occult hemorrhages are hemorrhages that cannot be seen by the patient. The source of the bleeding may be different from person to person (esophagus, stomach, duodenum or jejunum). Early diagnosis of bleeding significantly reduces the chances of developing colorectal cancer. Fecal analysis is also a way of treating the disease if it is detected at an early stage. FOBT is recommended as a screening method for men over the age of 50.
Examinations
Of the most important and necessary examinations after 50, you should pay attention to:
- electrocardiogram;
- echocardiography;
- ultrasound of brachycephalic vessels;
- ultrasound of the abdominal cavity;
- ultrasound of the arteries of the veins of the lower extremities;
- fluorography;
- fibrogastroduodenoscopy;
- colonoscopy.
These are the most important examinations for a man over 50 years of age. But if there are any health complaints, then, of course, the list of examinations can be extended at the discretion of the specialist.
And do not forget that the key to longevity is self-control and timely detection of health problems, in which elementary tests and examinations will be of great help.