Health Tips for Men Over 50

Men at the age of 50 are still active and their prime. However, to maintain and prevent diseases and illnesses, men should consider these tips when they reach this age:

• Go for a physical exam annually. As your body ages, some physical symptoms are also seen. You can discuss this with your doctor. Get advice on treating minor illnesses and steps to prevent other diseases such as cancer, hypertension, diabetes and heart disease. On the physical examination are routine blood tests, urine and stool tests and physical tests as a treadmill, EKG and chest x-rays.

• Have your blood tested. For blood, you should test your cholesterol levels. This can help you determine if you eat right and if you have healthy habits. This can help prevent blood pressure or heart disease. Smokers and diabetics tend to have high cholesterol levels.

• Go for colon and rectal exam. Passes stool testing, testing, colon and rectal exam annually, can be a great help in detecting the growth of polyps or colon cancer.

• Regularly visit your dentist. These regular oral examinations can help in early detection of tooth decay, gum disease or oral cancer. Those with unhealthy habits such as smoking, chewing tobacco and poor oral hygiene, you risk many dental problems. Some studies suggest that heart attack and stroke are closely associated with gum disease, so this is a serious matter.

• Have your eyes examined. Annual review of the eyes is very important because it can reveal problems with vision such as glaucoma or early appearance of cataracts.

• To have your annual prostate. Prostate exam is a very important test for men aged 40 and over. This can help in detecting prostate cancer early, which can give a high percentage of survival.

• Visit a psychotherapist. Not for anything, men should see a doctor to screen for depression. Your mental health is as important as your physical health. Talking with your doctor can help you with underlying depression or anxiety.

Like everything else, eating right along with regular exercise are the most important ways to prevent disease. Most importantly, the physical examinations and health practices can go a long way in the early detection and high survival rate of the disease.