When does a man need a check-up?

HEALTH MAINTENANCE IN MEN: what makes sense? The author reviews guidelines of the Canadian and U.S. Preventive Task Forces on the Periodic Health Examination and recent papers on prevention issues. A healthy man between 20 and 65 years of age might visit a physician every five years. Health-maintenance visits should include evaluation of STD and HIV risk factors, blood pressure reading and, after 35, cholesterol measurement. After 65, a visit every other year should suffice, but individuals must be informed of the importance of yearly influenza vaccination. Appropriate lifestyle counselling should be part of any medical encounter.