Preventive examinations for men: Keep an eye on your health

Early detection and targeted screening are important issues in men’s health. In this way, serious illnesses can be treated in good time. Read our blog to find out which tests you should have at which age.

Whether it’s a lack of time, lack of interest or a lack of symptoms – there are many reasons why many men don’t go for regular medical check-ups. But the absence of complaints should not be a reason for not doing so. Preventive examinations are about detecting diseases before they become noticeable.  Many serious diseases such as cardiovascular problems, diabetes or cancer often develop without symptoms and remain undetected without regular examinations until they become more difficult to treat.

What’s more, mandatory basic health insurance often doesn’t cover the costs of such examinations. This is where supplemental outpatient insurance can take over and provide comprehensive healthcare.

The different components of the screening examination for men

Preventive health care for men includes a series of examinations that help to identify and treat problems or illnesses at an early stage. A key component of the preventive check-up is a systematic survey on your state of health (medical history), as this allows specific risks to be identified or ruled out quickly. This is followed by a physical examination and an examination of the heart, lungs, stomach and circulatory system. Because the prostate gland plays an important role in the health of men, it is also recommended to examine it  starting no later than age 50. This usually includes a rectal palpatory examination and a blood test to determine the so-called PSA value (PSA = prostate-specific antigen). An elevated PSA level may indicate prostate cancer, which is why this examination is very important for early detection of prostate cancer.

In addition, men in advanced age should regularly take colorectal cancer screening. This includes a colonoscopy (intestinal scan), which can help to identify colorectal cancer at an early stage and treat it accordingly in an effective manner. Other components of the screening examination may include blood tests to check blood sugar, cholesterol levels and liver health to determine the risk of diabetes and cardiovascular disease. A measurement of blood pressure is often included. High blood pressure often does not cause any symptoms, but can lead to serious health problems in the long term.

How a preventive check-up for men works

A preventive examination is structured and can have different components depending on age and risk factors. This includes:

• Medical history: The doctor starts with a detailed interview about your medical history, your lifestyle habits (such as diet, daily exercise and risk factors such as smoking or alcohol consumption), your family history and current complaints. This information helps to better assess individual risks.
• Physical examination: The doctor will perform a physical examination. He or she measures blood pressure, scans the heart and lungs with a stethoscope and scans the stomach to detect organ changes or enlargements.
• Blood tests: The assistant then takes blood samples to determine various values, such as blood sugar to detect diabetes, cholesterol levels to assess the risk of cardiovascular disease and liver and kidney tests to check organ function.
• Urine test: A urine test may indicate kidney disease, diabetes and urinary tract infections.
• Cardiovascular check: To check heart function, the doctor performs an ECG (electrocardiogram) that identifies abnormal heart rhythm. In addition, a stress ECG is possible, as circulatory disorders of the heart show up clearly under stress.
• Discussion: After the examinations, the doctor will discuss the results with you. He or she will make recommendations for further examinations, treatments or lifestyle changes to help you improve your health.

When is the examination of the prostate, intestine and other organs important?

The following is a brief overview of relevant examinations for men by year of age: 

• From the age of 20: An annual health check makes sense to monitor your general state of health. This includes checking blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar levels as well as a general physical examination.
• From the age of 35: A regular skin examination for early detection of skin cancer is advisable – especially if you work in a profession with high levels of sunlight or if you have a family history. You should have these carried out every two years.
• From the age of 40: Regular eye examinations are important for early identification of visual disturbances, glaucoma and other eye diseases. These should be done every two to four years. In addition, men aged 40 and over should have their blood pressure and cholesterol checked regularly during the check-up. From this age on, the risk of cardiovascular disease increases. Therefore, an ECG and a stress ECG may be useful, especially if there are risk factors such as smoking, obesity or family history.
• From the age of 45: You should have a blood sugar test every three years to detect diabetes early. For obesity or other risk factors such as family history, more frequent testing is advisable. If you have a family history, you should also regularly have a rectal palpation examination and a PSA test for the early detection of prostate cancer from that age.
  
• From age 50: For men aged 50 and older, their health check should turn into regular preventive check-ups. Therefore, a prostate examination in the form of a rectal palpation examination and a PSA test is now recommended even without a family history. Colonoscopies are also advisable to detect colon cancer at an early stage.

How often should men have their prostate and colon examined?

For men aged 50 and over, more frequent and intensive check-ups are important. As a rule, a yearly prostate examinations make sense. However, in the case of abnormal PSA levels in the blood, further examinations are often necessary. Regular preventive appointments are crucial, as prostate cancer in its early stages often does not cause any symptoms. Just like colon cancer: In order to reduce the risk and fight diseases early, men should undergo a colonoscopy for early cancer detection every ten years. In addition to a colonoscopy, annual tests for concealed blood in the stool may be useful, as this allows early signs of colon cancer to be detected. These tests complement the colonoscopy, but do not replace it entirely.

Which preventive examinations for men does basic health insurance cover?

Mandatory basic health insurance in Switzerland generally covers the costs of a wide range of preventive check-ups for men. This applies in particular if they are carried out within the recommended age ranges and under certain conditions. Here are some details:

• Basic health insurance covers a general health check if the doctor deems it to be medically necessary. This includes blood tests, blood pressure measurements and other basic tests.
• The annual prostate exam (including the rectal palpatory examination and the PSA test) is covered by mandatory basic health insurance if there is an increased risk or if there are symptoms. Men aged 45 or 50 with a family history benefit from this preventive measure.
• Colonoscopy for colorectal cancer prevention is covered by basic health insurance every ten years between the ages of 50 and 69. In there is a family history, cost coverage begins earlier. Additional tests for concealed blood in the stool are also covered, provided the doctor has ordered them as a preventive measure.
• Examinations such as ECGs or stress ECGs to check your cardiovascular system are covered by basic health insurance if your doctor deems them necessary due to risk factors or symptoms.
• Blood glucose tests for early detection of diabetes are included in the scope of benefits provided by basic health insurance if there are risk factors such as obesity or family history.
• Regular eye examinations for the early detection of glaucoma and other eye diseases are covered by basic health insurance from a certain age or for specific risks.
• Skin tests for early detection of skin cancer are covered by basic health insurance if there is an increased personal risk.

Your insurance model and your individual health factors affect the coverage. It is therefore important that you check with your health insurer about the exact conditions.