"Making healthy lifestyle choices is the basis for good health."
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Peter Baar, PA-C is a Certified Physician Assistant at Mecosta Health Services, Big Rapids. He assists Family Practice Physicians Dr. Wright, Dr. VanderHill, Dr. Foster, and Dr. Macdonald.
Call (231) 796-3200 for an appointment. Office hours are 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.
[Guidelines based on US Preventive Services Task Force, American Academy of Pediatrics, and government statutes] |
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Men's Health
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Healthy living means playing an active role in managing your own health and taking advantage of the preventive care available through your health insurance plan and primary care physicians. Making healthy lifestyle choices is the basis for good health. Things like watching your weight, exercise, and regular physicals are the basics.
The following are some recommendations for preventive health screenings and exams. While they apply to most men, it is important to remember to discuss these guidelines with your doctor because you may have special health needs not addressed by the following schedule.
Men 19 to 30:
Physical every one to three years
Screenings
- Dietary Intake
- Physical activity
- Tobacco, alcohol, and drug use
- Medical history
Physical Examination
- Height, weight, and blood pressure
- Total blood chloesterol once every five years
- Testicular exam
Immunizations
- TD (tetanus-diphtheria booster) once every 10 years
Patient education/responsibility
- Dental health
- Diet and exercise
- Injury prevention – seat belts, smoke detectors
- Prevention and cessation of tobacco, alcohol, and drug use
- Safe sexual practices
- Safe sun exposure
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Men 40 to 64:
Annual Physicals
Screenings
- Height, weight and blood pressure
Laboratory/diagnostic procedures
- Glaucoma screening and retinal exam by an eye specialist every year
- Digital rectal exam once every year beginning at age 50
- Stool for occult blood exam once every year beginning at age 50
- Total blood cholesterol once every five years
- EKG for patients at high risk for heart disease
- Flexible sigmoidoscopy once every five years
- Prostate specific antigen (PSA) for men annually beginning at age 50
- Double-contrast barium enema and flexible sigmoidoscopy once every five to 10 years beginning at age 50
Immunizations
- Influenza vaccine (check with your doctor)
- TD (tetanus-diptheria booster) once every 10 years
- Pneumococcal vaccine at 50, 55 then 65 and over
Patient education/responsibility
Dental health
- Diet and exercise
- Safe sexual practices
- Injury prevention – seat belts, smoke detectors
- Prevention and cessation of tobacco, alcohol, and drug use
- Safe sun exposure
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Men 65 and older:
Annual Physicals
Screenings
Screenings
- Dietary intake
- Medical history
- Functional status at home
- Physical activity
- Prior symptoms of transient ischemic attack
- Tobacco, alcohol and drug use
Physical exam/responsibility
- Height, weight, and blood pressure
- Hearing and hearing aids (screen and refer as appropriate)
- Visual acuity (screen and refer as appropriate)
Laboratory/diagnostic procedure
- Prostate specific antigen (PSA) and digital rectal exam annually beginning at age 50
- Glaucoma screening and retinal exam by an eye specialist once every year
- Total blood cholesterol once every five years
- Urinalysis
- EKG for patients at high risk for heart disease
- Stool for occult blood once every year beginning at age 50
- Flexible sigmoidoscopy regularly
- Double-contrast barium enema once every five to 10 years
Immunizations
- Influenza vaccine
- Pneumococcal vaccine
- TD (tetanus-diphtheria booster) every 10 years
Patient education/responsibility
- Dental health
- Diet and exercise
- Injury prevention – seat belts, fall prevention
- Prevention and cessation of tobacco, alcohol, and drug use
- Safe sun exposure
(Continued.. page 2) 
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