HEALTH SCREENINGS

As we continue to make changes for the New Year and work on our health goals, it's important to focus on preventive health care. Preventive care can most definitely help you to maintain good health throughout the year and to extend your lifespan. We should get into the routine of getting regular medical checkups because that is one of the best gifts you can give yourself to maintain your health and well-being. The American Accreditation HealthCare Commission has recommended everyone to undergo the following health screenings yearly as preventive health care even if you feel healthy.

Health screenings for women:  

BLOOD PRESSURE SCREENING

  • Have your blood pressure checked at least once every 2 years. If the top number (systolic number) is between 120 to 139, or the bottom number (diastolic number) is between 80 to 89 mm Hg, you should have it checked every year. 
  • If the top number is greater than 140 or the bottom number is greater than 90, schedule an appointment with your doctor.
  • If you have diabetes, heart disease, kidney problems, or certain other conditions, you may need to have your blood pressure checked more often, at least once a year.
  • Watch for blood pressure screenings in your area. Ask your doctor if you can stop in to have your blood pressure checked.  

CHOLESTEROL SCREENING 

  • Recommended starting ages for cholesterol screening are between 20 to 45 for women.
  • Women with normal cholesterol levels do not need to have the test repeated for 5 years.
  • Repeat testing sooner than needed if changes occur in lifestyle (including weight gain and diet).
  • If you have diabetes, heart disease, kidney problems, or certain other conditions, you may need to be monitored more closely.

DIABETES SCREENING

  • If your blood pressure is 140/80 mm Hg or above, your provider will test your blood sugar level for diabetes.
  • If you have a body mass index (BMI) greater than 25 and have other risk factors for diabetes, you should be screened. Having a BMI over 25 means that you are overweight.
  • If you have other risk factors for diabetes, such as a first-degree relative with diabetes or a history of heart disease, your provider will likely screen you for diabetes.

DENTAL EXAM

  • Go to the dentist once or twice every year for an exam and cleaning. Your dentist will evaluate if you need more frequent visits.

EYE EXAM

  • If you have vision problems, have an eye exam every 2 years or more often if recommended by your provider.
  • Have an eye exam at least every year if you have diabetes.

IMMUNIZATIONS

  • You should get a flu shot every year.
  • After age 19, you should have one tetanus-diphtheria and acellular pertussis (TdAP) vaccine as one of your tetanus-diphtheria vaccines if you did not receive it as an adolescent. You should also have a tetanus-diphtheria booster every 10 years. 
  • You should receive two doses of varicella vaccine if you never had chickenpox or the varicella vaccine.
  • Your provider may recommend other immunizations if you are at high risk for certain conditions, such as pneumonia. 

PHYSICAL EXAM

  • Your blood pressure should be checked at least every 1 to 2 years.
  • Screening for cervical cancer should begin at age 21.
  • Your height, weight, and BMI should be checked at every exam.
During your exam, your doctor may ask you about:
  • Depression
  • Diet and exercise
  • Safety issues, such as using seat belts and smoke detectors

BREAST SELF-EXAM AND MAMMOGRAM

  • Women may do a monthly breast self-exam. However, experts do not agree about the benefits of breast self-exams in finding breast cancer or saving lives. Talk to your doctor about what is best for you.
  • A screening mammogram is not recommended for most women under age 40.
  • If you have a mother or sister who had breast cancer at a young age, consider yearly mammograms. They should begin earlier than the age at which their youngest family member was diagnosed.
  • If you have other risk factors for breast cancer, your doctor may recommend a mammogram, breast ultrasound, or MRI scan.
  • Contact your doctor right away if you notice a change in your breasts, whether or not you do breast self-exams.
  • If you are between ages 20 to 40, your doctor may do a clinical breast exam.

PELVIC EXAM AND PAP SMEAR

  • Beginning at age 21, women should have a pelvic exam and Pap smear every 3 years to check for cervical cancer.
  • If you are over age 30 and your Pap smear and HPV test are normal, you only need a Pap smear every 5 years.
  • If you have had your uterus and cervix removed (total hysterectomy) and you have not been diagnosed with cervical cancer you may not need to have Pap smears.
  • Women who are sexually active should be screened for chlamydia and gonorrhea up until age 25. Women 25 years and older should be screened if at high risk.
  • Your doctor will tell you how to prevent infections spread through sexual contact. These are called sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
  • Your doctor will ask you about alcohol and tobacco and may ask you about depression.

SKIN SELF-EXAM

  • Your doctor may check your skin for signs of skin cancer, especially if you're at high risk. 
  • People at high risk include those who have had skin cancer before, have close relatives with skin cancer, or have a weakened immune system.

OSTEOPOROSIS SCREENING

  • All women over age 50 with fractures should have a bone density test (DEXA scan).
  • If you are under age 65 and have risk factors for osteoporosis, you should be screened.

COLORECTAL CANCER SCREENING

  • If you are under age 50, talk to your health care provider about getting screened. You should be screened if you have a strong family history of colon cancer or polyps. Screening may also be considered if you have risk factors such as a history of inflammatory bowel disease or polyps.
If you are between ages 50 to 75, you should be screened for colorectal cancer. There are several screening tests available:
  • A fecal occult blood (stool-based) test is done every year
  • A fecal immunochemical test (FIT) every year
  • A stool DNA test every 3 years
You may need a colonoscopy more often if you have risk factors for colorectal cancer, such as:
  • A personal or family history of colorectal cancer 

OTHER SCREENING 

  • Talk with your provider about colon cancer screening if you have a strong family history of colon cancer or polyps, or if you have had inflammatory bowel disease or polyps yourself.
  • Routine bone density screening of women under 40 is not recommended.

 

Health screenings for men:  

BLOOD PRESSURE SCREENING

  • Have your blood pressure checked at least once a year. If the top number (systolic number) is between 120 to 139 mm Hg or the bottom number (diastolic number) is between 80 to 89 mm Hg, then continue to have it checked every year.
  • If the top number is greater than 140 or the bottom number is greater than 90, schedule an appointment with your doctor. 
  • If you have diabetes, heart disease, kidney problems, or certain other conditions, you may need to have your blood pressure checked more often. 
  • Watch for blood pressure screenings in your area. Ask your doctor if you can stop in to have your blood pressure checked.

CHOLESTEROL SCREENING AND HEART DISEASE PREVENTION

  • Your cholesterol should be checked every 5 years.
  • If you have a high cholesterol level, diabetes, heart disease, kidney problems, or certain other conditions, you may need to be checked more often. 
  • Some men should consider taking aspirin to prevent heart attacks. Ask your provider before you start aspirin because aspirin may increase your risk for bleeding.

DIABETES SCREENING

  • If you are age 45 or older, you should be screened every 3 years.
  • If you are overweight, ask your provider if you should be screened at a younger age.
  • If your blood pressure is above 140/80 mm Hg, or you have other risk factors for diabetes, your provider may test your blood sugar level for diabetes.

COLORECTAL CANCER SCREENING

  • If you are under age 50, talk to your health care provider about getting screened. You should be screened if you have a strong family history of colon cancer or polyps. Screening may also be considered if you have risk factors such as a history of inflammatory bowel disease or polyps.
If you are between ages 50 to 75, you should be screened for colorectal cancer. There are several screening tests available:
  • A fecal occult blood (stool-based) test done every year 
  • A fecal immunochemical test (FIT) every year
  • A stool DNA test every 3 years
  • Colonoscopy every 10 years 
You may need a colonoscopy more often if you have risk factors for colorectal cancer, such as:
  • Ulcerative colitis
  • A personal or family history of colorectal cancer

DENTAL EXAM

  • Go to the dentist once or twice every year for an exam and cleaning. Your dentist will evaluate if you have a need for more frequent visits.

EYE EXAM

  • Have an eye exam every 2 to 4 years ages 40 to 54 and every 1 to 3 years ages 55 to 64. Your provider may recommend more frequent eye exams if you have vision problems or glaucoma risk.
  • Have an eye exam at least every year if you have diabetes.

IMMUNIZATIONS

  • You should get a flu shot every year.
  • Your doctor may recommend other vaccinations if you have certain medical conditions, such as diabetes.
  • You should have a tetanus-diphtheria booster vaccination every 10 years. If you have not received a tetanus-diphtheria and acellular pertussis (Tdap) vaccine as one of your tetanus-diphtheria vaccines, you should have it once.
  • You may get shingles or herpes zoster vaccination once after age 50.

OSTEOPOROSIS SCREENING

  • If you are between ages 50 to 70 and have risk factors for osteoporosis, you should discuss screening with your provider.
  • Risk factors can include long-term steroid use, low body weight, smoking, heavy alcohol use, having a fracture after age 50, or a family history of osteoporosis.

PHYSICAL EXAM

  • Your blood pressure should be checked at least every year.
  • Your height, weight, and body mass index (BMI) should be checked at every exam.
During your exam, your provider may ask you about:
  • Depression
  • Diet and exercise
  • Alcohol and tobacco use
  • Safety, such as the use of seat belts and smoke detectors

PROSTATE CANCER SCREENING

  • Most men age 50 or older should discuss screening for prostate cancer with their provider. Black men and those with a family history of prostate cancer in a first-degree relative younger than age 65 should discuss screening at age 45. 
  • The potential benefits of PSA testing as a routine screening test have not been definitively shown to outweigh the harms of testing and treatment. If you choose to be tested, the PSA blood test is most often done every year.
  • Prostate examinations are no longer routinely done on men with no symptoms.

TESTICULAR EXAM

  • The US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) now recommends against performing testicular self-exams. Doing testicular self-exams has been shown to have little to no benefit.

LUNG CANCER SCREENING

  • The USPSTF recommends annual screening for lung cancer with low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) in adults ages 55 to 80 years who.

 

 

The American Accreditation HealthCare Commission

U.S. National Library of Medicine