Page 126 - South Mississippi Living - October, 2026

HEALTHY LIVING
story by Cherie Ward
Oil changes, tire rotations, annual tune-ups—men keep
plenty of things running on schedule. Your body deserves
the same attention. Here’s what to check, when to check
it, and why waiting for a warning light isn’t a health
plan.
You know it’s true.
Guys will spend 20 minutes investigating a mysterious noise
coming from a truck tire and six months pretending the
mysterious pain in their side is probably nothing.
Consider this a reminder—all maintenance matters, especially
when it comes to men’s health.
Health screenings can catch problems before symptoms
appear, and what belongs on your checklist changes as you age.
Family history, lifestyle, and other risk factors can move that
timetable up, so these guidelines are a starting point—not a
substitute for a conversation with your healthcare provider.
In Your 20s and 30s
This is when the baseline matters. Check blood pressure
regularly, along with cholesterol and other cardiovascular risk
factors as appropriate. Depending on your weight and risk
factors, your provider may also recommend diabetes screening.
And don’t skip mental health. Depression can affect anyone,
and screening is part of preventive care. If something feels
off—physically or mentally—say something.
In Your 40s
Welcome to the decade when “I feel fine” stops being a
comprehensive health plan.
At 45, male adults at average risk should begin colorectal
126 | October 2026 cancer screening. Options go beyond the traditional
colonoscopy, so talk with your provider about which screening
method and schedule are appropriate for you.
This is also a good time to understand your prostate cancer
risk. Men at higher risk, including Black men and those with a
family history, should begin discussing prostate screening with
their healthcare provider at 45—or as early as 40 for some men
at particularly elevated risk.
In Your 50s
Keep up with blood pressure, cholesterol, diabetes, and
colorectal screening. Average-risk men should talk with their
healthcare provider about the benefits and limitations of
prostate cancer screening beginning at 50.
Smoking history matters, too. Adults ages 50 to 80 with a
significant smoking history may qualify for annual low-dose CT
screening for lung cancer.
In Your 60s and Beyond
Everything above still matters, but another screening enters
the preventative conversation. Men ages 65 to 75 who smoked
should receive a one-time ultrasound screening for abdominal
aortic aneurysm, a potentially dangerous enlargement of the
body’s main artery.
And at every age, keep vaccinations current, and don’t
treat your annual checkup like an optional meeting. The
goal isn’t to find something wrong. It’s to stay ahead—
because the best time to deal with a health problem is
often before you even know it’s there.
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