[sidebar]SCREENINGS Cervical cancer: You should be screened with a Pap smear every three years. Colorectal cancer: You should be screened using fecal occult blood test (every year); flexible sigmoidoscopy or barium enema (every five years); or colonoscopy (every 10 years). Breast cancer: The current recommendation is to be screened using mammography every one to two years if you’re over the age of 50. Hypertension: You should be screened every two years if 120/80 or lower, every year if 120–139/80–90. More from Prevention: 7 Heart Tests That Can Save Your Life Cholesterol: Your cholesterol should be monitored every five years or more frequently for those with levels closer to problematic. Diabetes: Screen those with sustained blood pressure (treated or untreated) greater than 135/80 for type 2 diabetes every three years. Osteoporosis: You should be getting routine bone density tests. (See Should You Get A Bone Density Test? for more info.) Vision: You should be given a preliminary eye exam with an eye chart. Hearing: You doctor should ask about your hearing and any recent issues. [pagebreak] COUNSELING Aspirin use: You and your MD should discuss aspirin chemoprevention with those at increased risk for coronary heart disease, including the benefits and harms of aspirin therapy. Tobacco use: Your physician should know if you smoke and also discuss strategies to quitting. Alcohol misuse: You doc should ask detailed questions about how much and how often you drink. Calcium use: You should discuss how much of this bone-building mineral you’re getting from both your diet and supplement. Mental health: Screen for depression in clinical practices that have systems in place to assure accurate diagnosis, effective treatment, and follow-up. Obesity: Your Body Mass Index should be calculated and you should talk about what you do to stay in shape. Diet: You should discuss what you eat and your dietary needs. IMMUNIZATIONS Pneumococcal: Everyone over the age of 65 should be given this shot. Tetanus booster: You should be given one every 10 years. Influenza: Every flu season you should get one. More from Prevention: 3 Printable (Free!) Health Checklists
