9 tests men need to 'man up' for their health

The county is pointing to informational links on the top screening tests men should be getting to keep an eye on their health.

Here is a list of the top 9 tests compiled by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality:

1. Body mass index: The BMI is a measure of body fat based on height and weight to screen for obesity. To do it yourself, check out http://www.nhlbisupport.com/bmi.

2. Cholesterol: After age 35, men should be checked regularly for their cholesterol, one of the top risk factors for heart disease.

3. Blood Pressure: Men should have blood pressure checked every two years as it is one of the risk factors for getting heart and kidney disease or having a stroke.

4. Colorectal Cancer: After age 50, men should begin getting screened for colorectal cancer. Those with family history might want to begin screening earlier.

5. Other cancers: Men might need to be tested for prostate, lung, oral, skin or other cancers and should ask their doctor.

6. Sexually Transmitted Diseases: Among those diseases that may be a good idea to test for are gonorrhea, syphilis, chlamydia, or other STDs.

7. HIV: A man should get screened for HIV if he has had unprotected sex with multiple partners, used injected drugs, paid for sex or has had sex partners who do, had past or current sex partners who are infected with HIV, is being treated for sexually transmitted diseases, or had a blood transfusion between 1978 and 1985.

8. Depression: Those who have had a feeling of being "down" or "hopeless" in the past two weeks or have had little interest in doing things they usually enjoy may want to be screened for depression.

9. Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm: Men between the ages of 65 and 75 and have smoked 100 or more cigarettes in a lifetime should receive this screening for what is an abnormally large or swollen blood vessel in your stomach that can burst without warning.