Preventative Health Screening
Click on CHART.
The Wellness Guide to Preventive Care
– from www.berkeleywellness.com
Health care: your role
You are responsible, in large part, for managing your own preventive care. Your primary-care practitioner should be your partner. If you need any of the tests listed on the chart, ask about them. You should, if possible, have a copy of your test results and records.
There are other important preventive measures not listed on our chart—the kind of commonsense steps that could save millions of medical dollars and prevent injury, illness, disability, and premature death. Here's a checklist:
• Don't smoke, and avoid secondhand smoke.
• Maintain a healthy weight.
• Get regular exercise. Brisk walking for just half an hour every day can be a big factor in weight control and in staying healthy.
• Choose a diet low in animal fat and sodium, and rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and low-fat or nonfat dairy products. Eat at least two servings of fish a week.
• Keep alcohol consumption moderate: no more than one drink daily for a woman, two drinks for a man. If you are a heavy drinker, seek counseling, and cut back or quit.
• Do self-exams of your breasts or testes, as well as skin.
• Fasten seat belts, see that kids ride in proper restraints, and obey the law. Drive sober and defensively.
• Brush and floss to prevent dental disease.
• Don't take illegal drugs.
• Safest sex.
– from www.berkeleywellness.com
Health care: your role
You are responsible, in large part, for managing your own preventive care. Your primary-care practitioner should be your partner. If you need any of the tests listed on the chart, ask about them. You should, if possible, have a copy of your test results and records.
There are other important preventive measures not listed on our chart—the kind of commonsense steps that could save millions of medical dollars and prevent injury, illness, disability, and premature death. Here's a checklist:
• Don't smoke, and avoid secondhand smoke.
• Maintain a healthy weight.
• Get regular exercise. Brisk walking for just half an hour every day can be a big factor in weight control and in staying healthy.
• Choose a diet low in animal fat and sodium, and rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and low-fat or nonfat dairy products. Eat at least two servings of fish a week.
• Keep alcohol consumption moderate: no more than one drink daily for a woman, two drinks for a man. If you are a heavy drinker, seek counseling, and cut back or quit.
• Do self-exams of your breasts or testes, as well as skin.
• Fasten seat belts, see that kids ride in proper restraints, and obey the law. Drive sober and defensively.
• Brush and floss to prevent dental disease.
• Don't take illegal drugs.
• Safest sex.
Preventive Services for Healthy Adults
(Note: Practices vary from country to country, province to province, practitioner to practitioner. The following is intended as a guide.)
These are the major screening tests (that is, routine tests for people without symptoms) and adult immunizations. This advice is based largely on the recommendations of the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. Infants, children, and pregnant women need other kinds of preventive care not described here.
Blood pressure measurement (to detect hypertension)
Who needs: All adults.
How often: Once every 2 years for those with normal blood pressure.
Comments: More frequent monitoring for those with readings of 130/85 or higher.
Cholesterol measurement
Who needs: All adults.
How often: Once every 5 years. More often if total or LDL ("bad") cholesterol is high, HDL ("good") is low, and/or you have risk factors.
Comments: Those at high risk for heart disease need medical advice about life-style changes and possibly drug therapy.
Pap smear (for early detection of cervical cancer)
Who needs: All women with a cervix, starting at age 18, or earlier if sexually active.
How often: If 3 annual tests are normal, then once every 3 years. More often if you smoke or have multiple sex partners or other risk factors.
Comments: Some experts advise that women who have never had an abnormal result can stop being screened after age 65.
Breast cancer screening (mammography)
Who needs: All women 50 and over; those 40-49 should discuss risk factors with a doctor.
How often: Annually.
Comments: Clinical breast exams are also important—consult your doctor.
Colorectal cancer screening (fecal occult blood test, sigmoidoscopy, colonoscopy)
Who needs: Everyone 50 and over; earlier for those at high risk.
How often: Occult blood test annually; sigmoidoscopy every 5 years or colonoscopy every 10 years.
Comments: Digital rectal exam and X-ray with barium enema may also be done.
Prostate cancer screening (prostate specific antigen, or PSA, test; and digital rectal exam, or DRE)
Who needs: Blacks and men with family history, DRE and PSA starting at age 40. For others, DRE, and possibly PSA, starting at 50.
How often: DRE annually; PSA on professional advice.
Comments: Usefulness of PSA screening for all men remains controversial.
Diabetes screening (fasting blood glucose test)
Who needs: Everyone 45 and older; earlier for those at high risk.
How often: Every 3 years.
Comments: Blacks, Hispanics, Asians, Native Americans, obese people, and those with a strong family history need more frequent screening, starting at age 30.
Thyroid disease screening
Who needs: Women 50 and over; those with high cholesterol or family history of thyroid disease.
How often: On professional advice.
Comments: Routine screening remains controversial.
(Note: Practices vary from country to country, province to province, practitioner to practitioner. The following is intended as a guide.)
These are the major screening tests (that is, routine tests for people without symptoms) and adult immunizations. This advice is based largely on the recommendations of the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. Infants, children, and pregnant women need other kinds of preventive care not described here.
Blood pressure measurement (to detect hypertension)
Who needs: All adults.
How often: Once every 2 years for those with normal blood pressure.
Comments: More frequent monitoring for those with readings of 130/85 or higher.
Cholesterol measurement
Who needs: All adults.
How often: Once every 5 years. More often if total or LDL ("bad") cholesterol is high, HDL ("good") is low, and/or you have risk factors.
Comments: Those at high risk for heart disease need medical advice about life-style changes and possibly drug therapy.
Pap smear (for early detection of cervical cancer)
Who needs: All women with a cervix, starting at age 18, or earlier if sexually active.
How often: If 3 annual tests are normal, then once every 3 years. More often if you smoke or have multiple sex partners or other risk factors.
Comments: Some experts advise that women who have never had an abnormal result can stop being screened after age 65.
Breast cancer screening (mammography)
Who needs: All women 50 and over; those 40-49 should discuss risk factors with a doctor.
How often: Annually.
Comments: Clinical breast exams are also important—consult your doctor.
Colorectal cancer screening (fecal occult blood test, sigmoidoscopy, colonoscopy)
Who needs: Everyone 50 and over; earlier for those at high risk.
How often: Occult blood test annually; sigmoidoscopy every 5 years or colonoscopy every 10 years.
Comments: Digital rectal exam and X-ray with barium enema may also be done.
Prostate cancer screening (prostate specific antigen, or PSA, test; and digital rectal exam, or DRE)
Who needs: Blacks and men with family history, DRE and PSA starting at age 40. For others, DRE, and possibly PSA, starting at 50.
How often: DRE annually; PSA on professional advice.
Comments: Usefulness of PSA screening for all men remains controversial.
Diabetes screening (fasting blood glucose test)
Who needs: Everyone 45 and older; earlier for those at high risk.
How often: Every 3 years.
Comments: Blacks, Hispanics, Asians, Native Americans, obese people, and those with a strong family history need more frequent screening, starting at age 30.
Thyroid disease screening
Who needs: Women 50 and over; those with high cholesterol or family history of thyroid disease.
How often: On professional advice.
Comments: Routine screening remains controversial.
Chlamydia screening
Who needs: Women 25 and younger, if sexually active.
How often: Annually, or more often.
Comments: Men and women of any age who are at risk for STDs (chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, and HIV) should be tested.
Glaucoma screening
Who needs: People at high risk: those over 65, very nearsighted, or diabetic; blacks over 40; those with sleep apnea or family history of glaucoma.
How often: On professional advice of eye specialist.
Comments: Many eye specialists advise screening all adults every 3-5 years, starting at age 39.
Dental checkup
Who needs: All adults.
How often: Every 6 months, or on professional advice.
Comments: Should include cleaning and exam for oral cancer.
Tetanus/diphtheria booster
Who needs: All adults.
How often: Every 10 years.
Comments: People over 50 are least likely to be adequately immunized.
Influenza vaccine
Who needs: Everyone 50 and over, people with lung or heart disease or cancer, and others at high risk.
How often: Annually, in autumn.
Comments: Even healthy younger adults can benefit and should consider getting the shot.
Pneumococcal vaccine
Who needs: Everyone 65 and over, and others at high risk for complications.
How often: At least once.
Comments: Effective against most strains of pneumococcal pneumonia; lasts at least 5-10 years.
Rubella vaccine
Who needs: All women of childbearing age.
How often: Once.
Comments: Avoid during pregnancy.
Hepatitis B vaccine
Who needs: All young adults, as well as adults at high risk.
How often: On professional advice.
Comments: All newborns should be vaccinated.
Chickenpox vaccine
Who needs: Anyone who has never had chickenpox.
How often: Once. But above age 13 it requires two shots.
Comments: Not recommended for pregnant women or those with compromised immunity.
Who needs: Women 25 and younger, if sexually active.
How often: Annually, or more often.
Comments: Men and women of any age who are at risk for STDs (chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, and HIV) should be tested.
Glaucoma screening
Who needs: People at high risk: those over 65, very nearsighted, or diabetic; blacks over 40; those with sleep apnea or family history of glaucoma.
How often: On professional advice of eye specialist.
Comments: Many eye specialists advise screening all adults every 3-5 years, starting at age 39.
Dental checkup
Who needs: All adults.
How often: Every 6 months, or on professional advice.
Comments: Should include cleaning and exam for oral cancer.
Tetanus/diphtheria booster
Who needs: All adults.
How often: Every 10 years.
Comments: People over 50 are least likely to be adequately immunized.
Influenza vaccine
Who needs: Everyone 50 and over, people with lung or heart disease or cancer, and others at high risk.
How often: Annually, in autumn.
Comments: Even healthy younger adults can benefit and should consider getting the shot.
Pneumococcal vaccine
Who needs: Everyone 65 and over, and others at high risk for complications.
How often: At least once.
Comments: Effective against most strains of pneumococcal pneumonia; lasts at least 5-10 years.
Rubella vaccine
Who needs: All women of childbearing age.
How often: Once.
Comments: Avoid during pregnancy.
Hepatitis B vaccine
Who needs: All young adults, as well as adults at high risk.
How often: On professional advice.
Comments: All newborns should be vaccinated.
Chickenpox vaccine
Who needs: Anyone who has never had chickenpox.
How often: Once. But above age 13 it requires two shots.
Comments: Not recommended for pregnant women or those with compromised immunity.