Starting at age 50, most men should see their doctor each year for a checkup, particularly if they have any signs of cardiovascular disease, one of the two leading causes of death in men. (The other is cancer.)
Sacramento internal medicine physician Drew Factor, M.D., MPH, of Sutter Medical Group, works closely with his male patients age 50 and older on managing any chronic conditions and getting the right preventive care to keep them healthy, active and mentally sharp for years to come.
“Becoming older doesn’t have to mean becoming unhealthy,” he says. “However, age does add complexity to staying healthy because there are more possible problems to look out for. In addition, your body is also much less resilient, so what might have been a small accident or minor illness when you were a young man can be a major problem for you now.”
Having a primary care doctor you trust and a “medical home” where all of your care can be coordinated also becomes more important. Depending on your health status, you may see more specialists and get more medical tests after age 50. Without coordinated care, it can be difficult to keep on top of all this information by yourself, Dr. Factor notes.