Jump to content

  • Set Your Location
  • Sign in or Enroll
Set Your LocationSet Your Location
  • Sign in or Enroll
    • Open I want to choose my medical group or hospital
    • Clear my location
Change Location
Sutter Health
  • Video Visits
  • Find Doctors
  • Find Locations
  • Treatments & Services
    • Video Visits
    • Find Doctors
    • Find Locations
    • Treatments & Services
    • COVID-19 Resources
    • Pay a Bill
    • Symptom Checker
    • Get Care Today
    • Health & Wellness
    • Classes & Events
    • Research & Clinical Trials
    • For Patients
    • About Sutter Health
    • Giving
    • Volunteering
    • Careers
    • News
    • For Medical Professionals
    • Other Business Services
Close Search
  • Home
  • Health and Wellness
  • Men's Health
  • Health Advice for Young Men
Content

Health Advice for Young Men

How to feel great in your teens and 20s and for decades to come.

Ronesh Sinha, M.D.

Contributor

Ronesh Sinha, M.D.

Palo Alto Medical Foundation

Teens and young men have tremendous resilience and healing capacity. Ron Sinha, M.D., is an internal medicine physician at the Palo Alto Medical Foundation who frequently lectures about men’s health issues. He notes that it is during this age when men typically feel invincible.

 "You can eat a large pizza and barely gain a pound. You can pull all-nighters consecutively for a week before final exams and recover after sleeping in a full day,” he says.

Unfortunately, as high levels of male hormones begin a natural and gradual decline with age, these super-human capabilities fade and poor diet and exercise habits you’ve established while young begin to catch up with you.

Teenage boy with headphones

“Teens and young men benefit long-term when they see a doctor for a full physical exam every few years, get needed vaccinations and learn the importance of a good diet, regular exercise and sufficient sleep before bad lifestyle habits get deeply ingrained and harder to change,” Dr. Sinha says.

Vaccinations

Although most vaccinations series are completed by age 18, there are seasonal vaccines and boosters that everyone needs. Dr. Sinha says healthy young men should get the following:

  • Flu shots — The flu is an unpredictable illness. While it rarely endangers healthy young men, it can make you very uncomfortable. In addition, every year flu seriously sickens some young men and may even put them in the hospital. Flu shots also help prevent you from spreading flu to others who may be at greater risk, like the elderly, babies and people with serious illnesses like cancer.
  • Tdap vaccine — Young men are active risk takers and get their fair share of cuts and bruises. This vaccine is often given after a severe cut or burn to prevent tetanus (lockjaw), a dangerous blood infection. In addition, it prevents you from catching and spreading diphtheria and pertussis (whooping cough).
  • Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine — This sexually-transmitted virus can cause genital warts and throat cancer in men. It is also a leading cause of cervical cancer in women. Getting the vaccine protects you and your future partners. Typically, it is offered by pediatricians to boys just before puberty, but it is not too late to be vaccinated as a young man.

Medical Tests

There are relatively few tests young men need. However, getting a blood tests so that you know your baseline lipid (cholesterol) and glucose levels, as well as blood pressure, is smart, Dr. Sinha says.

Young men should also know their family health history. If a relative had an early heart attack, or if relatives have had certain cancers, you may need early screening tests for cardiovascular disease and cancers.

One cancer that tends to strike younger men is testicular cancer. Doctors used to recommend that all males in their 20s and 30s do testicular self-exams, feeling for an unusual lump or change. However, new research has shown that this makes little difference in the ability to detect testicular cancer early. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force therefore no longer recommends testicular cancer self exams for all men. The American Cancer Society advises talking to your doctor about whether self-exams will help you.

Finally, if you have had unprotected sex or used intravenous drugs, tell your doctor. These conversations are confidential and help your doctor manage your health. Your doctor may recommend screenings for certain serious sexually-transmitted or blood-borne diseases like AIDS, chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis.

“Enjoy your good health and energy as a young man, but don’t take it for granted,” Dr. Sinha says. “Get in the habit of taking care of your body. Eat right, get both adequate rest and exercise, reduce stress and see your doctor regularly

Related Articles

  • The Truth About Gout
  • Tips for Men 50 and Older
  • Health Advice for Men
  • Erectile Dysfunction
  • Male Testosterone Loss
  • Prevent Sports Injuries
The Sutter Health Network of Care
Expertise to fit your needs
Primary Care

Check-ups, screenings and sick visits for adults and children.

Specialty Care

Expertise and advanced technologies in all areas of medicine.

Emergency Care

For serious accidents, injuries and conditions that require immediate medical care.

Urgent Care

After-hours, weekend and holiday services.

Walk-In Care

Convenient walk-in care clinics for your non-urgent health needs.

  • Contact Us
  • Find Doctors
  • Find Locations
  • Request Medical Records
  • Make a Gift
Sign in to My Health Online

Billing and Insurance

  • Pay a Bill
  • Accepted Health Plans
  • Estimate Costs
  • Medicare Advantage

About Sutter

  • About Our Network
  • Community Benefit
  • Annual Report
  • News

Our Team

  • For Employees
  • For Medical Professionals
  • For Vendors
  • For Volunteers

Careers

  • Jobs at Sutter
  • Physician Jobs
  • Graduate Medical Education

Copyright © 2023 Sutter Health. All rights reserved. Sutter Health is a registered trademark of Sutter Health ®, Reg. U.S. Patent & Trademark office.

  • ADA Accessibility
  • Privacy
  • Do Not Sell My Personal Information
  • LinkedIn Opens new window
  • YouTube Opens new window
  • Facebook Opens new window
  • Twitter Opens new window
  • Instagram Opens new window
  • Glassdoor Opens new window

Cookie Policy

We use cookies to give you the best possible user experience. By continuing to use the site, you agree to the use of cookies. Privacy Policy Cookie Preferences

Privacy Policy Cookie Preferences