As a man in his 40s, you may find a few differences to your sexual health, and overall wellness. You have less energy, and get up off the floor a bit slower than you used to – but that’s not to say you’re ready to be put out to pasture. Taking care of your health in your 40s is all about prevention, meaning that you need to take control of your health instead of waiting for disease to happen and then fighting to save yourself. Preventative care in your 40s means getting screened for certain conditions before they occur, so you can ensure you have another healthy 40 years ahead of you. So, what tests do you need to have when you turn 60?
1. Thyroid tests: Your thyroid gland produces your thyroid hormone, which is responsible for your metabolism, energy production and mental sharpness. You may have a deficiency in this hormone if you experience fatigue, dry skin, hair loss, constipation, cold hands and feet, and sugar cravings. If this is the case, get tested through either a TSH and/or Free T-3).
2. C-Reactive Protein (CRP): Inflammation is a marker for heart disease, and this test measures your body’s level of inflammation. The result you’re after is anything less than 1mg/L. However, if you do find that your inflammation levels are elevated, you can fight back with fish oils, CoQ10, magnesium and vitamin D.
3. 25-OH Vitamin D (25 hydroxy-vitamin D): There’s no denying the importance of vitamin D; optimal levels can improve your bone density, enhance your cognitive health and reduce your risk of cancer. Therefore, if your vitamin D levels are low, that’s something you’ll want to know about! There are several tests that can determine whether or not you need to do something about your vitamin D levels, but the 25-OH vitamin D level is considered the most accurate. If you find your levels are low, you can get the vitamin D you need from sunlight on your skin, supplements or fortified foods.
4. Total and Free Testosterone: While you don’t need this test on a yearly basis, your testosterone levels do noticeably begin to decline when you reach your 40s. Testosterone is often overlooked for its benefits to your heart, brain, bones, muscles and blood vessels, but you should definitely discuss goal levels for these tests with your doctor. Units for the test can very from lab to lab but generally, you should be aiming for around 15-25pg/ml for free testosterone, and 550-800ng/ml for total testosterone.
5. Homocysteine: This is a product of protein metabolism and if your levels get too high, a whole host of wellness issues may be in store. Excess levels of homocysteine can lead to blood vessel damage, stroke, Alzheimer’s disease, macular degeneration and depression. If the test reveals your levels are higher than the optimal nine units, you can reset the balance with a higher intake of vitamins B-12, B-6 and folic acid.
6. Fasting Insulin Levels: Before your blood sugar rises to the classic diabetic markers, your insulin levels will rise. This demonstrates early signs of your body’s inability to handle the sugar it’s ingesting, so it’s a good thing to know about. The goal ranges may be from 0 -14, but you should try to keep your levels around 7 units or less. If your levels are too high, you have an indicator that you should be reducing the amount of refined sugar in your diet.
7. DHEA-Sulfate: This test looks at your levels of the DHEA hormone, which shares many of the health benefits of testosterone. However, to your heart, brain, bones, muscles and blood vessels aside, DHEA is very important for overweight or diabetic men. If you’re healthy and in your 40s, getting this test done now will give you a baseline for future comparison. The goal usually starts at more than 200 mcg/dl.
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