Screening tests and vaccines are an important part of managing your health. A screening test is done to find possible disorders or diseases in people who don't have any symptoms. The goal is to find a disease early so lifestyle changes can be made and you can be watched more closely to reduce the risk of disease, or to detect it early enough to treat it most effectively. Screening tests are not used to diagnose. Instead, they are used to decide if more testing is needed. Health counseling is essential, too. Below are guidelines for these, for men ages 18 to 39. Talk with your healthcare provider to make sure you’re up-to-date on what you need.
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Screening
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Who needs it
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How often
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Alcohol misuse
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All men in this age group
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At routine exams
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Blood pressure
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All men in this age group
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Yearly checkup if your blood pressure is normal
Normal blood pressure is less than 120/80
If your blood pressure is higher than normal, follow the advice of your healthcare provider.
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Diabetes mellitus, type 2
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Adults who have no symptoms but are overweight or obese and have 1 or more other risk factors for diabetes
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At least every 3 years (yearly if blood sugar has already started to rise)
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Hepatitis C
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If at increased risk
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At routine exams
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High cholesterol or triglycerides
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All men ages 35 and older, and younger men at high risk for coronary artery disease
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At least every 5 years
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HIV
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All men
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At routine exams
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Obesity
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All men in this age group
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At routine exams
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Syphilis
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Men at increased risk for infection – talk with your healthcare provider
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At routine exams
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Tuberculosis
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Men at increased risk for infection – talk with your healthcare provider
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Check with your healthcare provider
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Vision
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All men in this age group
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Every 5 to 10 years if no risk factors for eye disease
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Vaccines
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Who needs it
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How often
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Chickenpox (varicella)
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All men in this age group who have no record of this infection or vaccine
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2 doses; the second dose should be given at least 4 weeks after the first dose
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Hepatitis A
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Men at increased risk for infection – talk with your healthcare provider
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2 doses given at least 6 months apart
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Hepatitis B
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Men at increased risk for infection – talk with your healthcare provider
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3 doses over 6 months; second dose should be given 1 month after the first dose; the third dose should be given at least 2 months after the second dose and at least 4 months after the first dose
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Haemophilus influenzae Type B (HIB)
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Men at increased risk for infection – talk with your healthcare provider
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1 to 3 doses
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Human papillomavirus (HPV)
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All men in this age group up to age 26
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3 doses; the second dose should be given 1 to 2 months after the first dose and the third dose given 6 months after the first dose
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Influenza (flu)
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All men in this age group
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Once a year
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Measles, mumps, rubella (MMR)
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All men in this age group who have no record of these infections or vaccines
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1 or 2 doses through age 55
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Meningococcal
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Men at increased risk for infection – talk with your healthcare provider
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1 or more doses
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Pneumococcal (PCV13) and Pneumococcal (PPSV23)
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Men at increased risk for infection – talk with your healthcare provider
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PCV13: 1 dose ages 19 to 65 (protects against 13 types of pneumococcal bacteria)
PPSV23: 1 to 2 doses through age 64, or 1 dose at 65 or older (protects against 23 types of pneumococcal bacteria)
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Tetanus/diphtheria/pertussis (Td/Tdap) booster
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All men in this age group
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A one-time Tdap booster after age 18, then Td every 10 years
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Counseling
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Who needs it
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How often
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Diet and exercise
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Overweight or obese people
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When diagnosed, and then at routine exams
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Use of tobacco and the health effects it can cause
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All men in this age group
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Every visit
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Sexually transmitted infection prevention
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Men who are sexually active
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At routine exams
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Skin cancer
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All men in this age group.
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At routine exams. You may be reminded to avoid intentional tanning and tanning beds.
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1Those who are 18 years of age, who are not up-to-date on their childhood immunizations, should get all appropriate catch-up vaccines recommended by the CDC.