Living a healthy lifestyle is certainly a key strategy for a long and healthy life. But is not a guarantee that you will never get a serious illness. It is also important to get health exams on a regular basis as recommended by your doctor. These exams should include basic health tests including: a healthy weight determination, blood pressure check, cholesterol check, glucose test for diabetes, and other tests as indicated for your age and health condition.
By finding health problems early, serious health complications and early death can often be prevented. Keeping current on recommended immunizations is also an effective way to prevent serious illness.
Recommended Preventive Exams & Immunizations
The National Institutes of Health recommend the following tests for heart health:
- Cholesterol check including total, LDL, and HDL cholesterol, at least every five years, more often if high.
- Fasting blood fat levels (triglycerides) and glucose levels checking for diabetes and increased coronary risk.
- Blood pressure test annually.
- Health counseling about physical activity, healthy weight, safety, substance use, depression, and other healthy lifestyle issues.
The American Cancer Society recommends the following cancer preventive exams:
| Cancer site/Target population |
Test or Exam |
Frequency |
| Breast — Women age 20+ |
Clinical breast exam |
Every 3 years; Annually with a mammogram after age 40 or as recommended by a doctor |
| Colorectal — Men & women 50+ |
Multi-sample fecal occult blood test (in-home kit) with rectal exam and one of the following: |
Annually |
| |
- Sigmoidoscopy, or
- Barium enema x-ray, or
- Colonoscopy (most accurate) |
Every 5 years, or
Every 5-10 years, or
Every 10 years |
| Cervix — Women age 18+ |
PAP test and pelvic exam |
Annually — After three or more consecutive normal tests, the test may be performed less frequently at MD's direction |
| Prostate — Men age 50+ |
Digital rectal exam and prostate specific antigen (PSA) test |
Annually, PSA test should be offered to men at age 50+ after explaining limitations of screening |
| Cancer-related checkups — Men & women age 20+ |
Health exams, to include exams for other potential cancers such as: skin, ovary, testicular, oral cavity, lymph nodes, and thyroid, as well as counseling about tobacco, sun exposure, diet and nutrition, weight control, sexual practices, and potential occupational exposures. |
At least every 3 years; Annually after age 40 |
The following immunizations are recommended for adults:
- Tetanus booster every 10 years
- Pneumonia vaccination at age 65 and repeated every 10 years or as directed by your doctor
- Flu vaccination annually for all healthy adults age 65+ (and encouraged for any adult not wanting to get the flu)
- Hepatitis vaccination (only if traveling to certain countries or exposed to hepatitis transmission, such as medical and emergency workers).
| Regular checkups and health counseling with your physician is practicing good preventive medicine. |
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