Key Points
- Prevention and early detection save lives
- The NHS offers free health checks for men aged 40-74
- You don't need symptoms to benefit from screening
- Know your numbers: blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar
Why Health Checks Matter
Many serious conditions — like heart disease, diabetes, and some cancers — develop silently. By the time symptoms appear, significant damage may have occurred.
Regular health checks can:
- Catch problems early when they're easier to treat
- Identify risk factors before they cause disease
- Give you peace of mind
- Motivate healthy lifestyle changes
Men are less likely than women to attend health checks — but they have shorter life expectancy. Taking charge of your health is important.
All Adult Men
Blood Pressure
Every adult should have their blood pressure checked at least every 5 years, more often if it's borderline or high. High blood pressure has no symptoms but causes heart attacks and strokes.
Testicular Self-Examination
Check your testicles monthly from puberty onwards. Testicular cancer is most common in young men and is very curable when caught early.
Know Your Family History
Family history of heart disease, cancer, or diabetes may mean you need earlier screening.
Ages 40-74: NHS Health Check
Everyone aged 40-74 in England is eligible for a free NHS Health Check every 5 years. This assesses your risk of:
- Heart disease
- Stroke
- Kidney disease
- Type 2 diabetes
What's Included
| Test | Why It's Done |
|---|---|
| Blood pressure | High BP is a major risk for heart attack and stroke |
| Cholesterol blood test | High cholesterol blocks arteries |
| Blood sugar (HbA1c or fasting glucose) | Screens for diabetes and pre-diabetes |
| BMI and waist measurement | Assesses weight-related risk |
| QRISK score | Your 10-year risk of heart attack or stroke |
| Lifestyle questions | Smoking, alcohol, diet, exercise |
How to Get an NHS Health Check
Your GP practice should invite you, but you can also:
- Ask your GP surgery directly
- Some pharmacies offer NHS Health Checks
- Some workplaces offer them
Age 50+
Bowel Cancer Screening
From age 60 (or 50 in Scotland and some parts of England), you'll be sent a home test kit every 2 years. This checks your stool for hidden blood.
- Simple test done at home
- Posted back in the kit provided
- Catches bowel cancer early when it's very treatable
- Can also detect pre-cancerous polyps
Do it! Many men ignore these kits. Bowel cancer is the 4th most common cancer in the UK.
PSA Testing (Prostate)
There's no routine prostate screening in the UK, but men over 50 can request a PSA test. It's worth considering if you're at higher risk:
- Black African or Caribbean heritage
- Father or brother had prostate cancer
Discuss the pros and cons with your GP first.
Age 65+
Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA) Screening
All men are invited for a one-time ultrasound scan at age 65 to check for an aneurysm (bulge) in the aorta.
- Quick, painless ultrasound scan
- Aneurysms can rupture and are often fatal
- When detected early, they can be monitored or repaired
- You'll be invited automatically around your 65th birthday
Continued Monitoring
- Blood pressure — annually
- Diabetes screening if at risk
- Bowel cancer screening continues to age 74
- Regular medication reviews
Other Tests to Consider
STI Testing
If you're sexually active with new or multiple partners, consider regular STI testing:
- Chlamydia and gonorrhoea
- HIV
- Syphilis
Testing is confidential and available at sexual health clinics or by post.
Diabetes Screening
If you have risk factors (overweight, family history, certain ethnicities), ask your GP about diabetes testing even before age 40.
Skin Checks
Check your skin regularly for new or changing moles. Men are more likely than women to die from melanoma, partly because they're less likely to check.
Eye Tests
Every 2 years (or more often if recommended). Free if you're over 60, have diabetes, or have certain conditions.
Dental Check-ups
Every 6-24 months depending on your dentist's recommendation. Oral health affects overall health.
Making the Most of Health Checks
- Be honest — About smoking, drinking, symptoms
- Know your family history — Heart disease, cancer, diabetes in relatives
- Ask questions — What do results mean? What should I do?
- Follow up — If further tests or lifestyle changes are recommended, do them
- Keep track — Note your blood pressure, cholesterol, weight
Quick Reference: Screening by Age
| Age | Recommended Checks |
|---|---|
| All adults | Blood pressure (every 5 years), testicular self-exam (monthly) |
| 40+ | NHS Health Check (every 5 years) |
| 50+ | Consider PSA test discussion, bowel screening starts (varies by region) |
| 60+ | Bowel cancer screening (every 2 years) |
| 65 | AAA screening (one-time ultrasound) |
Don't Wait for Symptoms
Many men only see a doctor when something's wrong. But screening works best when you feel well — that's the point. Make regular health checks a priority.
Book your NHS Health Check today. Your future self will thank you.