Know your numbers: what’s worth checking after 35

4 minute readPublished: Oct 20, 2026

Know your numbers

Most men only see a doctor when something breaks. Until then, “I feel fine” does the job. The trouble is that some of the things most worth catching don’t make you feel anything at all.

Key takeaways

High blood pressure, rising blood sugar and cholesterol rarely cause symptoms, so feeling fine doesn’t mean everything is fine.
Blood pressure, weight and waist, blood sugar and cholesterol are the core numbers. Testosterone is worth checking when symptoms point to it.
You can check blood pressure and weight at most pharmacies. For the full picture, you need a doctor who can order the right tests and read them together.

44%

of adults with high blood pressure worldwide don’t know they have it²World Health Organization

31%

of South African men are overweight or obese³SA Demographic and Health Survey

The problemWhy men put it off

It isn’t that men don’t care. South African research with men who rarely use health services found a mix of reasons.¹

Fear of what they might hearCostTime off workTreating things themselvesA sense that a man should just handle it

All understandable. None of them makes a problem go away.

The numbersThe numbers worth knowing

Blood pressureHigh blood pressure rarely causes symptoms, which is exactly why it’s dangerous. It’s the single easiest check on this list.²

Weight and waistYour waist matters as much as your weight, because fat carried around the middle is more closely linked to heart disease and diabetes.⁴

Blood sugarType 2 diabetes can build for years without obvious symptoms. A simple blood test shows where you stand.

CholesterolAnother silent one. Together with blood pressure, blood sugar and smoking, it tells a doctor a lot about your heart risk.

Testosterone, if symptoms point to itTestosterone isn’t a routine screening test for every man. It’s worth checking when there are symptoms, such as a lower sex drive, weaker erections or low energy. Book the blood test for the morning, when testosterone is highest, so the result tells the true story.⁵

Normal or notWhat’s normal ageing, and what isn’t

Normal with ageSlower recoveryYou’ll probably recover a bit slower and need to work harder to keep muscle.

Worth a conversationChanges you don’t have to acceptSteadily rising blood pressure, a growing waistline, erections that have changed or energy that’s gone for months.

How Oryx helpsWhere to start

Blood pressure and weight you can check at most pharmacies. For the full picture, you want a doctor who can order the right tests and tell you what they mean together.

If you’re eligible, your Oryx doctor can order the tests you need as part of your consultation.

How Oryx works

ConsultationR900video consultation with a doctor

QuestionsFrequently asked questions

What health checks should men have after 35?

The core numbers are blood pressure, weight and waist, blood sugar and cholesterol. Testosterone is worth checking when symptoms point to it, such as a lower sex drive, weaker erections or low energy.

Why is high blood pressure called silent?

Because it rarely causes symptoms. Worldwide, about 44% of adults with high blood pressure don’t know they have it, which is why checking it matters.

Does my waist size matter, or just my weight?

Your waist matters as much as your weight. Fat carried around the middle is more closely linked to heart disease and diabetes.

Should every man have his testosterone tested?

No. Testosterone isn’t a routine screening test. It’s worth checking when there are symptoms, with a blood test taken in the morning, when levels are highest.

Where can I get my numbers checked?

Blood pressure and weight can be checked at most pharmacies. For the full picture, a doctor can order the right blood tests and explain what they mean together.