Have you delayed or avoided medical care due to concerns related to COVID-19? If you have, you’re not alone. An estimated 41% of adults have done the same, according to a survey administered in June. The road to long-term health begins with your primary care doctor, who oversees your preventive health screenings throughout your life. With your primary care physician’s help, you can take proactive steps to prevent, delay and alleviate chronic illness like heart disease and diabetes.
The more your primary care doctor knows about you, the greater his or her ability to provide you with insights about your overall health and any risks or warning signs of chronic illness. Remember, your doctor helps you to take charge of your health and become more mindful about your lifestyle and choices.
Yearly Recommendations for Adults
Comprehensive Physical Exam
An annual wellness visit is recommended for all adults. Your doctor will measure your blood pressure and your height and weight. They’ll also talk with you about any health concerns you have and about tobacco, drug or alcohol use, anxiety and depression, sexually transmitted infections, skin cancer risk, hearing, vision and oral health.
Routine Blood Work.
You doctor may order a complete blood count (CBC), which is a group of tests that counts blood cells, platelets and other markers that help evaluate overall health and detect a wide range of disorders. A basic metabolic panel (BMP) measures glucose (sugar), electrolyte and fluid balance, and kidney function. Based on your symptoms, risk factors, or family history, specific blood tests may be necessary to evaluate diabetes, cholesterol, thyroid disease, liver disease, and anemia. A Hepatitis C screening is also recommended for adults at least once in their lifetime.
Immunizations.
Vaccines help your immune system fight disease and provide protection for many years. They also help stop the spread of infections from one person to another. Here’s a list of the recommended childhood and adult immunizations:
- Influenza (flu) – one dose annually during flu season
- HPV vaccine (series of 3)
- Tdap (if never received as adolescent)
- Td booster or Tdap – every 10 years
- Herpes zoster (Shingles) vaccine – age 50 or older
- Pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPSV23) – age 65 or older
- COVID-19 vaccine
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Screening Recommendations for Women
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Colorectal Cancer >
- Speak with your doctor about which screening for colon cancer is right for you.
- Starting at age 45 through age 75 for those at average risk.
Lung Cancer >
- Screening with low-dose computed tomography (LDCT)
- Every year for adults age 50 to 77 years who have a 20-pack per year smoking history and currently smoke OR have quit within the past 15 years
Osteoporosis >
- Bone measurement test
- For those younger than 65 years who are at increased risk of osteoporosis.
- All women 65 and older should be screened once.
Cervical Cancer >
- Screening options include cervical cytology (PAP smear) and high-risk human papillomavirus testing (hrHPV)
- Screen beginning at age 21
Breast Cancer >
- Mammography or breast ultrasound every two years
- For ages 50 to 74 years.
- Screenings before age 50 or after 74 are options that should be a shared decision between patient and practitioner
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Screening Recommendations for Men
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Prostate Cancer >
- Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test to screen for prostate cancer
- Begins at ages 50 to 75 for those at average risk. For those at higher risk, starts at age 40.
- Screening options should be a shared decision between patient and practitioner
Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm >
- One-time screening with ultrasonography for men
- For ages 65 to 75 who have ever smoked
Colorectal Cancer >- Speak with your doctor about which screening for colon cancer is right for you
- Starts at age 45 through age 75 for those at average risk
Lung Cancer >
- Screening with low dose computed tomography (LDCT)
- Every year for adults age 50 to 77 years who have a 20-pack per year smoking history and currently smoke OR have quit within the past 15 years
Note to Patients
The above list of screenings for women and men is based on current recommended guidelines. For patients at increased risk due to family history, health issues or lifestyle, your primary care doctor may recommend earlier or additional screenings. Remember, early detection can save lives.