7 Essential Health Screenings You Shouldn’t Skip

Health screenings save lives — yet most men skip them. Spring is here. The days are getting longer, the parks are filling up again, and something in the air feels like a fresh start. But while you’re thinking about clearing out the garden shed or dusting off your running shoes, there’s one thing most men in Birmingham — and across the UK — quietly push to the back of the queue — their health.

Let’s change that. Right now.

Health screenings aren’t just for people who are already ill. They’re for you. The man who’s been “fine.” The man who’s too busy. The man who hasn’t seen a GP in three years because, honestly, nothing seemed that serious. These screenings exist to catch what your body hasn’t told you yet — and in many cases, catching something early is the difference between a manageable conversation with a doctor and a life-altering crisis.

This spring, we’re cutting through the noise and laying out the seven health screenings every man needs to know about — with the latest UK data to back it up.

Why Health Screenings Are More Valuable Than You Think

Here’s the truth that most men don’t hear often enough: the NHS estimates that around 40% of all cancers in England could be prevented or detected earlier through routine screening and lifestyle changes. Yet according to NHS England’s 2024–2025 data, men are significantly less likely than women to attend health screenings, visit their GP, or seek early intervention.

Cancer Research UK reports that 1 in 2 people in the UK will develop cancer in their lifetime. Heart disease remains the single biggest killer of men in England, claiming over 66,000 male lives per year. Diabetes UK confirmed in early 2025 that over 4.4 million people in the UK are living with diabetes, with a staggering proportion undiagnosed.

These aren’t just statistics. They’re fathers, brothers, friends, colleagues — men who could have had more time, more conversations, more springs in the park, if only someone had caught something sooner.

Health screenings give you back control. They give you information. And information is power.

1. Blood Pressure Check

Why it matters: High blood pressure — hypertension — is often called “the silent killer” because it produces almost no symptoms until it causes a stroke or heart attack. According to Blood Pressure UK, approximately 14 million adults in England have high blood pressure, and around 5 million of those are undiagnosed.

When to get it: From age 18, ideally every year. You can get it done at your GP surgery, a local pharmacy, or even use an NHS Health Check — available to all adults aged 40–74.

What to expect: It takes under two minutes. A cuff goes around your arm, a reading appears, and a healthcare professional interprets it. Simple. Quick. Potentially life-saving.

The NHS now offers free blood pressure checks at many community pharmacies across Birmingham and the West Midlands. This one is worth your attention.

2. Cholesterol Screening

Why it matters: High cholesterol builds up silently in your arteries, narrowing the vessels that carry blood to your heart and brain. It contributes directly to heart disease and stroke — and again, you will not feel it happening.

When to get it: Men over 35 should have their cholesterol checked every five years at a minimum. If you have a family history of heart disease or are overweight, begin earlier and test more frequently.

The UK picture: The British Heart Foundation reports that nearly half of all adults in England have raised cholesterol, yet many remain completely unaware. A simple blood test can tell you your numbers and give you a clear picture of your cardiovascular risk.

Spring is the perfect time to book this in. The warmer weather and longer days make it easier to start walking more, eating better, and making changes that genuinely shift cholesterol numbers.

3. Type 2 Diabetes Screening

Why it matters: Type 2 diabetes is a condition where your body stops processing blood sugar efficiently. Left unchecked, it causes nerve damage, kidney disease, vision loss, and significantly raises your risk of heart attack and stroke.

When to get it: If you are over 40, have a BMI above 25, have a family history of diabetes, or are from a South Asian, Black African, or African-Caribbean background — where risk is higher — you should be screened now.

The UK picture: In 2025, Diabetes UK reported that 2.4 million people in the UK are at high risk of developing Type 2 diabetes but haven’t been diagnosed yet. The NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme is actively expanding in Birmingham and offers free support for those at risk.

The blood test used — an HbA1c test — is quick, straightforward, and gives you a clear answer. Early intervention can prevent Type 2 diabetes from developing entirely.

4. Bowel Cancer Screening

Why it matters: Bowel cancer is the fourth most common cancer in the UK and the second biggest cancer killer, according to Bowel Cancer UK’s 2025 statistics. But here’s the encouraging part — when caught early, more than 90% of bowel cancer cases are treatable.

When to get it: The NHS invites everyone aged 50–74 in England to take part in bowel cancer screening every two years. You receive a home test kit called the FIT (Faecal Immunochemical Test) in the post, use it at home, and return it — no clinic visit required.

If you’re under 50 and experiencing unexplained changes in bowel habits, bleeding, or persistent abdominal pain, speak to your GP immediately. Don’t wait. Don’t dismiss it.

The men’s reality: Cancer Research UK data shows that men are diagnosed with bowel cancer at a higher rate than women. Yet participation in screening remains lower among men. If you receive a kit, use it. Literally, your life may depend on that decision.

5. Testicular Self-Examination and Awareness

Why it matters: Testicular cancer is the most common cancer in men aged 15–49 in the UK. The good news is that it has one of the highest survival rates of all cancers — over 95% — if detected early. And the detection method couldn’t be simpler: knowing what’s normal for you.

When to do it: Monthly self-examination. There’s no formal NHS screening programme for testicular cancer, which means awareness is everything.

What to look for: Any lump, swelling, heaviness, or change in the feel of the testicle should be checked by a GP without delay. Most lumps are harmless, but the ones that aren’t need to be caught quickly.

This is the screening no one talks about. It costs nothing, takes two minutes in the shower, and saves lives. Talk about it with your mates. Break the silence.

6. Skin Check and Melanoma Awareness

Why it matters: Skin cancer is the fifth most common cancer in the UK, and melanoma — the most serious form — is increasing in incidence, particularly among men over 55. Men are also more likely to present with advanced-stage melanoma because they delay seeking help.

When to get it: There’s no blanket NHS screening programme for skin cancer. However, anyone with a large number of moles, a personal or family history of melanoma, or significant sun exposure history should ask their GP for a referral or attend a dermatology service.

What to watch for: Use the ABCDE rule — Asymmetry, Border irregularity, Colour change, Diameter greater than 6mm, Evolution (changes in shape, size or colour). If a mole changes or a new suspicious patch appears, see your GP within two weeks.

Spring brings longer daylight and more time outdoors — a genuinely great thing. But as we move into brighter days, wearing SPF and checking your skin regularly makes all the difference.

7. Mental Health Check-In

Why it matters: This one doesn’t come with a blood test or a scan. But it belongs on this list just as much as any of the others — perhaps more.

Men’s mental health is at a crisis point in the UK. According to the Samaritans’ 2025 statistics, men account for approximately three-quarters of all suicides in the UK, with middle-aged men representing the highest-risk group. The Mental Health Foundation estimates that 1 in 8 men in the UK has a common mental health disorder — but the vast majority never seek support.

The reasons are well-documented and heartbreakingly familiar: the pressure to appear strong, the fear of being judged, the belief that asking for help is a sign of weakness. These barriers kill men every single day.

A mental health check-in means taking a moment to honestly assess how you’re doing. Are you sleeping? Are you withdrawing from people you care about? Is there a persistent heaviness that doesn’t seem to lift? Are you using alcohol, work, or distraction to avoid how you actually feel?

You don’t have to answer those questions by yourself.

You Don’t Have to Face This Alone

This is where we want to speak directly to every man reading this in Birmingham — and beyond.

Men’s Prosperity Club is a free mental health support space built specifically for men who are ready to be honest about how they’re doing. Not in a clinical way. Not in a way that requires you to have all the answers or know exactly what you’re feeling. Just showing up is enough.

Through walk and talk sessions that take advantage of Birmingham’s parks and open spaces — perfect for spring — and a horizontal leadership model that treats every man as an equal, Men’s Prosperity Club creates the kind of environment where honesty feels safe. Where vulnerability is not a weakness. Where you can say “I’m not okay” and be met with understanding instead of judgement.

This is peer support the way it was always meant to work — men walking alongside other men, talking, listening, growing.

Whether you’re carrying something heavy right now or you simply want to invest in your mental and emotional wellbeing before things get difficult, Men’s Prosperity Club has a space for you.

Your Spring Action Plan

Now that you’ve read this far, here’s what we want you to do with it:

1. Book a GP appointment this week. Mention you’d like an NHS Health Check if you’re aged 40–74. It covers blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar, BMI, and cardiovascular risk — all in one appointment.
2. Check your post. If you’re aged 50–74, an NHS bowel cancer screening kit may already be sitting unopened somewhere. Find it. Use it.
3. Do a self-examination and make it a monthly habit.
4. Check your skin before heading outdoors more regularly this spring.
5. Be honest with yourself about how you’re feeling mentally and emotionally. And if the answer is “not great” — take the next step.

The Bravest Thing You Can Do This Spring

Health screenings are not about being afraid. They’re about being proactive. They’re about choosing yourself, choosing your future, and refusing to be part of a statistic that didn’t have to happen.

Spring is a season of new beginnings. New growth. New energy. Use that energy to show up for yourself in a way that will matter for the rest of your life.

And if you’re ready to take that step with your mental health — to connect with other men who get it, to walk, talk, and grow — Men’s Prosperity Club is waiting for you.

👉 Join Men’s Prosperity Club Birmingham — your free mental health support space, built by men, for men.

Real strength is knowing when to ask for help.