Everyone puts off doctor’s visits, but seeing the experts for big-picture status reports regularly is crucial to catching diseases in their earliest, most treatable stages. Here’s what to stay on top of:
General checkup
- Ideally, every year.
Blood pressure
- Every year at your annual checkup.
Blood sugar
- Every 3 years starting at age 45; earlier if you have diabetes risk factors such as a family history, being overweight, high cholesterol or high blood pressure.
Cholesterol test
- Every 5 years starting at age 20. Start earlier or have it checked more often if you have a family history of heart disease or other risk factors for heart disease (like hypertension or diabetes).
Vaccinations
- Get a tetanus-diphtheria (Td) booster every 10 years. All adults need a one-time dose of Tdap (a combo of whooping cough, tetanus and diphtheria vaccines). In addition, get an annual flu shot, especially if you’re over 50 or have any chronic conditions.
Breast exam/mammogram
- Do a monthly self-exam and have a yearly doctor’s clinical breast exam. Once you’re 40, have a mammogram every year, maybe starting at a younger age if you’re at an increased risk for breast cancer.
Pelvic exam/pap smear
- If you’re under 30, get these annually. If you’re over 30 and have gone for 3 years with normal results, you may be able to get a Pap every 2 to 3 years.
- Twice in your 30s; every 1 to 2 years starting at age 40.
Teeth cleaning and exam
- Annually or more often, depending on what your dentist recommends.
Colonoscopy
- Unless you have a family history of colon cancer or symptoms, you can wait until age 50. Talk to your doctor about how often you should get them.
Bone density test
- Get screened at least once starting at age 65, but if you have risk factors for osteoporosis (a family history, or you’re taking meds that can affect bone density), your doctor may suggest that you be tested earlier and more often.
No comments:
Post a Comment