
Feeling good? That’s a good time to think about healthcare you can plan ahead. Preventative screenings are an important tool to monitor health. (Bonus: They’re convenient – part of an annual physical, or easy to schedule.)
Here are the screenings the U.S. Preventative Services Task Force recommends for all adults:
- Cholesterol – every 5 years (age 20+)
- Colorectal cancer – every 10 years (age 50-75)
- Diabetes – every 3 years (age 45+)
- Hepatitis C – if born between 1945-1965
- Hypertension (blood pressure) – every 1-2 years
- Lung cancer – current or quit in past 15 years (age 55+)
To check at each annual physical:
- Alcohol use
- Depression
- Tobacco use and cessation
- HIV infection/risk
- Weight/Body Mass Index
Additional screenings the U.S. Preventative Services Task Force recommends for women:
- Mammogram – every year (age 40+)
- Osteoporosis – baseline (age 65 or at menopause)
- Cervical cancer – Pap smear every year (age 21-30), then every 3 years (age 30-65)
- Intimate partner violence – part of yearly physical (age 18-55)
Additional screenings the U.S. Preventative Services Task Force recommends for men:
- Abdominal aortic aneurysm – if an “ever smoker” (age 65+)
- Prostate cancer – every year (age 50+; African Americans, 40+)
Time for an annual physical, or a specific screening test? Call your local clinic to make the appointments you need.