An annual visit to the doctor can come with a variety of tests and recommendations for living a healthy lifestyle. With the vast world of health, including everything from medications, supplements, recommended workouts, and possible screenings, it can be easy to be overwhelmed.
Here is a list of screenings that are recommended. Please consult with your physician for what is right for you.
Lipid Panel for Cholesterol: Men older than 45 and women older than 55 should have their lipid levels tested regularly. After 65, a lipid test should be done every year.
High Blood Pressure: Screening is recommended at every visit for all adults in order to catch and treat hypertension.
Type 2 Diabetes: Any older adult with underlying hypertension or other cardiovascular disease should ask about being tested for Type 2 diabetes.
Colorectal cancer: Adults beginning at age 50 and continuing every two years until 75 should test for colorectal cancer. If you have a family history of colorectal cancer, it may be recommended that you start testing as early as 45 years of age or younger.
Breast Cancer: Women should start getting regular mammograms every two years starting at age 40 and ending at 74. Talk to your doctor about the possible risks of screening for breast cancer.
Prostate Cancer: Men who are 55-69 should talk to their doctor about screening for prostate cancer. This is done through a prostate specific antigen (PSA) test.
Cervical Cancer: Women begin screenings for cervical cancer at age 25 and continue until age 65 if they have had normal results in the past 10 years and no history of CIN2 or more serious diagnosis within the past 25 years. Once screenings are stopped, they do not need to be resumed.
Osteoporosis Screening: Women should have their first DEXA bone scan at 65. Repeated screenings are determined by your physician.
Eye Exam: An eye exam should be conducted every one to two years, starting at age 65, if other previous conditions do not exist.
Dental Exam: Exams with your dentist are recommended twice a year for all ages. Dental health can affect your overall health so please inform your dentist of any changes to your health.
Depression: Many doctors have a mental health screening included in regular health questionnaires. Anytime our bodies change due to age or illness, it’s good to do a mental health screening. Please talk to your primary care physician about options.
Some of these recommendations may change over time as we learn more about different diseases and how to best screen for them. Ask your doctor about these screenings and if they apply to you or if you may be at higher risk than others and should test earlier or more often.
If you don’t have a primary care physician, talk to your local hospital to find available doctors in your area. A primary care physician (or family doctor) will oversee your overall health and not just one area of your health or major disease. Seeing a primary care physician for an annual check-up is recommended.
Recommendations taken from the American Cancer Society at Cancer.org and the National Institute of Health and UCLAhealth.org