HEALTH CHEEK UP AT 40
You should visit your health care provider from time to time,
even if you are healthy. The purpose of these visits is to:
·
Screen for medical issues
·
Assess your risk of future medical
problems
·
Encourage a healthy lifestyle
·
Update vaccinations
·
Help you get to know your provider in
case of an illness
Information
Even if you feel fine, you should still see your health care
provider for regular checkups. These visits can help you avoid problems in the
future. For example, the only way to find out if you have high blood pressure is to have it checked regularly. High
blood sugar and high cholesterol levels also may not have any symptoms
in the early stages. A simple blood test can check for these conditions.
There are specific times when you should see your provider.
Below are screening guidelines for women ages 40 to 64.
BLOOD PRESSURE SCREENING
·
Have your blood pressure checked
every 2 years. If the top number (systolic number) is between 120 and 139 or
the bottom number (diastolic number) is between 80 and 89 mm Hg or higher, have
it checked every year.
·
Watch for blood pressure screenings
in your area. Ask your provider if you can stop in to have your blood pressure
checked. Or check your blood pressure using the automated machines at local
grocery stores and pharmacies.
·
If the top number is greater than
140, or the bottom number is greater than 90, schedule an appointment with your
provider.
·
If you have diabetes, heart disease,
kidney problems, or certain other conditions, you may need to have your blood
pressure checked more often.
CHOLESTEROL SCREENING
·
If you are age 20 or older and have
risk factors for coronary heart disease, your cholesterol should be checked
every five years.
·
If you have high cholesterol levels,
diabetes, heart disease, kidney problems, or certain other conditions, you may
need to be checked more often.
DIABETES SCREENING
·
If you are over age 44, you should be
screened every 3 years.
·
If you are overweight, ask your
provider if you should be screened at a younger age. Asian Americans should be
screened if their BMI is greater than 23.
·
If your blood pressure is above
135/80 mm Hg, or you have other risk factors for diabetes, your provider may
test your blood sugar level for diabetes.
If you are under age 50, you should be screened if you have a
strong family history of colon cancer or polyps. Screening may also be
considered if you have risk factors such as a history of inflammatory bowel
disease or polyps.
If you are between ages 50 to 75, you should be screened for
colorectal cancer. There are several screening tests available. Some common
screening tests include:
·
A fecal occult blood test done every
year
·
Flexible sigmoidoscopy every 5 years along with a fecal
occult blood test every 3 years
·
Colonoscopy every 10 years
You may need a colonoscopy more often if you have risk factors
for colon cancer, such as:
·
A personal or family history of
colorectal cancer
·
A history of colorectal adenomas
DENTAL EXAM
·
Go to the dentist once or twice every
year for an exam and cleaning. Your dentist will evaluate if you have a need
for more frequent visits.
EYE EXAM
·
Have an eye exam every 2 to 4 years
ages 40 to 54 and every 1 to 3 years ages 55 to 64. Your provider may recommend
more frequent eye exams if you have vision problems or glaucomarisk.
IMMUNIZATIONS
·
You should get a flu shot every year.
·
Ask your provider if you should get a
vaccine to reduce your risk of pneumonia.
·
You should have a tetanus-diphtheria
and acellular pertussis (Tap) vaccine once as part of your tetanus-diphtheria
vaccines. You should have a tetanus-diphtheria booster every 10 years.
·
You may get a shingles or herpes
zoster vaccine once after age 60.
·
Your provider may recommend other
immunizations if you are at high risk for certain conditions.
PHYSICAL EXAM
·
Your blood pressure should be checked
at least every two years.
·
Your provider may recommended
checking your cholesterol every 5 years if you have risk factors for coronary
heart disease
·
Your height, weight, and body mass
index (BMI) should be checked at each exam.
During your exam, your provider may ask you about:
·
Depression
·
Diet and exercise
·
Alcohol and tobacco use
·
Safety issues, such as using seat
belts and smoke detectors
BREAST EXAM
·
Women may do a monthly breast
self-exam. However, experts do not agree about the benefits of breast
self-exams in finding breast cancer or saving lives. Talk to your provider
about what is best for you.
·
You should contact your provider
immediately if you notice a change in your breasts, whether or not you do
self-exams.
·
Your provider may do a clinical
breast exam as part of your preventive exam.
MAMMOGRAM
·
Women ages 40 to 49 may have a mammogram every 1 to 2 years. However, not all
experts agree about the benefits of having a mammogram when women are in their
forties. Talk to your provider about what is best for you.
·
Women ages 50 to 75 should have a
mammogram every 1 to 2 years depending on their risk factors, to check for breast cancer.
OSTEOPOROSIS SCREENING
·
All women over age 50 with fractures
should have a bone density test (DEXA scan).
·
If you are under age 65 and have risk
factors for osteoporosis, you should
be screened.
PELVIC EXAM AND PAP SMEAR
·
You should have a Pap smear every 3 years. If you have both a Pap
smear and human papilloma virus (HPV) test, you may be tested every 5 years.
HPV is the virus that causes genital warts and cervical cancer.
·
Your provider may do pelvic exams
more often if you develop problems.
·
If you have had your uterus and
cervix removed (total hysterectomy), and you have not been diagnosed with
cervical cancer, you do not need to have Pap smears.
·
Women who are sexually active and at
high risk should be screened for chlamydia and gonorrhea. Your provider may
talk with you about testing for other infections..
·
Your provider will ask you questions
about alcohol and tobacco, and may ask you about depression.
SKIN EXAM
·
The American Cancer Society
recommends a skin exam as part of a periodic exam by your provider, if it is
indicated.
·
The U.S. Preventive Services Task
Force (USPSTF) does not recommend for or against performing a skin self-exam.
LUNG CANCER SCREENING
The USPSTF recommends annual screening for lung cancer with
low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) in adults aged 55 to 80 years who:
·
Have a 30 pack-year smoking history
AND
·
Currently smoke or have quit within
the past 15 years
TAKEN OUT FROM NET AND AFTER GOING THROUGH NUMBER OF STUDIES HENCE NOT ORIGINAL IN NATURE BUT USEFULL TO ALL
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