Prevention Guidelines for Men 50–64

Alcohol misuse

All adults

At routine exams

Blood pressure

All adults

Every 2 years if your blood pressure reading is less than 120/80 mm Hg*

Yearly if your systolic blood pressure reading is 120 to 139 mm Hg or your diastolic blood pressure reading is 80 to 89 mm Hg*

Colorectal cancer

All adults

According to the American Cancer Society:

For tests that find polyps and cancer:

• Flexible sigmoidoscopy every 5 years¹, or

• Colonoscopy every 10 years, or

• Double-contrast barium enema every 5 years¹

For tests that primarily find cancer:

• Yearly fecal occult blood test², or

• Yearly fecal immunochemical test every year², or

• Stool DNA test, interval uncertain²

The tests that are designed to find both early cancer and polyps are preferred if these tests are available to you and you are willing to have one of these more invasive tests; talk with your doctor about which test is best for you

Depression

All adults with access to a clinical practice that has staff and systems in place to assure accurate diagnosis, effective treatment, and follow-up

At routine exams

Diabetes mellitus, type 2

Adults who have no symptoms and have sustained blood pressure (treated or untreated) greater than 135/80 mm Hg

At least every 3 years

HIV

Anyone at increased risk for infection

At routine exams

Lipid disorders

All adults

At least every 5 years

Obesity

Anyone at increased risk

At routine exams

Syphilis

Anyone at increased risk for infection

At routine exams

Tuberculosis

Anyone at increased risk for infection

Check with your health care provider

Vision

All adults³

Check with your health care provider for exam frequency

Aspirin for primary prevention of cardiovascular events

Men ages 45 to 79 when potential benefits from a decrease in heart attacks outweigh the harm or risks from an increase in gastrointestinal hemorrhage

When diagnosed with risk for cardiovascular/heart disease; check with your health care provider before starting

Diet, behavioral counseling

Adults with hyperlipidemia and other known risk factors for cardiovascular and diet-related chronic disease

When diagnosed

Tobacco use and tobacco-related disease

All adults

Every visit

Tetanus/diphtheria/
pertussis (Td/Tdap) booster

All adults

Td: every 10 years

Tdap: substitute a one-time dose of Tdap for a Td booster after age 18, then boost with Td every 10 years

Measles, mumps, rubella (MMR)

All adults ages 50 to 64 who have no previous infection or documented vaccinations**

One or two dose; check with your health care provider

Chickenpox (varicella)

Adults ages 50 to 64 who have no previous infection or documented vaccinations**

Two doses; second dose should be given at least 4 weeks after the first dose

Flu (seasonal)

All adults

Yearly during flu season

Hepatitis A

People at risk⁴

Two doses given at least 6 months apart

Hepatitis B

People at risk⁵

Three doses; the second dose should be given 1 month after the first dose, and the third dose given at least 2 months after the second dose (or at least 4 months after the first dose)

Meningococcal

People at risk**

One or more doses

Pneumococcal (polysaccharide)

People at risk⁶

One or two doses

Zoster

All men ages 60 and older**

One dose