How to Check Under Your Hood

For guys, there’s more to spring than cleaning. It’s also the season of “The Checklist.” Rake the lawn? Check. Switch out those winter tires? Check. Cheer for your favourite Canadian team in the NHL playoffs? That one gets a body check for sure!

This year, there’s an especially important and beneficial item to add to your checklist: The Men’s Maintenance Guide. The purpose of the Men’s Maintenance Guide is to take the hassle and confusion out of key medical questions we need to ask our doctors. Think of it as an all-in-one checklist of essential screening tests and vaccinations, as well as a tool that shows you how to ask medical questions. After all, there’s a lot at stake here: This guide serves as a reminder that we all need to take responsibility for ensuring our health.

Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes

Just like our health evolves as we age, the Men’s Maintenance Guide evolves, too. Here’s what we mean:

• Guys aged 20 to 39 have a dozen things to check on a regular basis, from annual flu shots, to eye exams every 10 years, and even a heads up on when you should “check the boys.” It also includes regular awareness of any mental health issues. “Regular,” by the way, means discussing any signs of depression with family, friends and a health-care professional.
• The list grows for guys who are 40 to 54 years old. Chest health, for example, should be checked every 2 to 3 years. Prostate exams, which are never as bad as they might seem, should also be scheduled every 2 years. Physical exams become more regular, going from every 3 to 5 years to every three years, period.
• As for men aged 55-plus, bone health comes on board along with abdominal ultrasounds, colorectal exams…and so it goes.

It can feel like a lot to keep track of, which is exactly why the Men’s Maintenance Guide is such a useful tool. Print it out and tape it to the inside of your medicine cabinet, gym locker, or anywhere it can serve as a reminder. Every little bit helps, right?