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.