Men's Wellness Checkups in Fargo

With most insurance providers, a men’s wellness visit will be fully covered once per year, since treatment can minimize the risk of future illness. Some health plans even have a financial incentive for policyholders for completing an annual wellness physical. At Altaire Clinic, we offer men’s wellness visits that are designed to identify any health issues in the early stages, increasing your chances of survival and ensuring better health in the future since you will be under a medical provider’s supervision.

VITALS

During a wellness visit, a nurse will check your vital signs, including your height, weight, pulse, blood pressure, and temperature.

BLOOD PRESSURE

A normal blood pressure level can indicate good overall health, while a higher blood pressure level may indicate heart and vascular issues. Listening to your heartbeat can tell us whether you have an irregular heartbeat, a murmur, or other possible heart defects.

A BP that is less than 120/80 MM is considered normal. When your blood pressure is tested, both your diastolic and systolic blood pressure levels will be checked.

Hypertension, or high blood pressure, can result in a variety of health issues since high blood pressure means that the heart is working much harder than it should. When extra stress is placed on the heart, it can increase a man’s risk of stroke or heart attack.

Blood pressure should be tested at least once a year.

BODY MASS INDEX, TEMPERATURE, RESPIRATION, AND HEART RATE TESTS

This line of tests can tell a provider quite a bit about your overall health and can identify any potential health issues.

HEART RATE

A stethoscope is used to listen to a patient’s heartbeat. A normal heartbeat ranges from 60 to 100

RESPIRATION

12 to 16 breaths a minute is considered normal. 20 or more breaths a minute can indicate lung or heart problems.

BODY MASS INDEX OR WEIGHT

Taking a patient’s build, weight, and height into consideration, a medical provider will determine whether or not a patient is at a healthy weight, based on the body mass index scale. However, this scale is not 100% foolproof since a person that has higher muscle mass can also have a high body mass index. If a patient’s body mass index is above thirty, they are considered obese. Altaire clinic has a special BMI scale to break down the muscle weight, fat weight, and fluid weight to help determine the overall health of the individual and not just the number by itself.

BLOOD GLUCOSE TESTING

Research has shown that men who are over the age of forty and who are obese or overweight should have their blood sugar levels tested at least yearly. This is due to their increased risk of heart disease, which is linked to poor diet and obesity.

High blood sugar can indicate a patient’s increased risk of type 2 diabetes since this test result can indicate that their body is failing to efficiently break down and utilize sugar.

CHOLESTEROL SCREENING

Starting at age twenty, it’s recommended that men have their cholesterol checked every five years. There are two types of cholesterol- high density cholesterol (HDL) and low density cholesterol (LDL). LDL is the bad kind of cholesterol, while HDL is the good type of cholesterol.

Cholesterol levels are determined via a blood test. Cholesterol levels that measure under 200 mg/dl are considered healthy.

Your healthcare provider can calculate an ASCVD Score which is another tool for cardiac risk assessment and this helps to determine the need for closer monitoring, lifestyle modifications, or medication management.

Certain factors, including body mass that is over thirty, smoking, and diabetes, can mean a man should have their cholesterol levels tested more frequently. Additionally, a man’s cholesterol levels should be tested more often than every five years if they have a family history of high cholesterol.

BLOODWORK

Bloodwork will allow us to diagnose and treat issues that may not have been obvious otherwise. During a wellness exam, a provider may draw labs for everything including vitamins, glucose level, kidney function, liver function, hormones, blood count, and cholesterol. They may also request a complete chemistry panel and urinalysis. The lab work requested will often depend on any symptoms you are experiencing.

OVERALL BODY

A provider will examine everything from your skin to your throat. Examining your skin can tell them whether you may have certain health issues. They will look for signs of skin cancer, and other diseases and will pay special attention to the color, size, and shape of moles. If you have a family history of skin cancer, you can discuss whether or not being seen by a dermatology provider is a good choice for you for prevention.

The feel of your abdomen can tell a medical professional how well the digestive system is working.

A provider will also test reflexes, balance, muscle strength, and neurological standing.

MALE-SPECIFIC EXAMS

A male wellness check will also include hernia, prostate, penile, and testicular exams. Prostate cancer screenings are an important part of preventative care.

A testicular exam is very important and helps to screen for signs of cancer. A hernia exam will involve the provider requesting that the patient turn their head and cough. This test allows them to feel for any weakness or thinness between the scrotum and intestines. Finally, during the last portion of the exam, a provider maycheck the prostate for signs of disease and check the penis for ulcers and growths. A lab (blood) test (PSA) may be drawn and monitored based on your risk for prostate cancer.