Visits to the doctor are an essential step in keeping healthy. You should ask your doctor about certain medical screenings that you should have regularly, depending on your age. There are certain medical tests that every person should have at some point in their life.
Which health screenings you should have and when usually depends on your gender and age. Below, learn all about health screenings, which screenings you may want to look into receiving, and when you should look into them.
1 Ask Your Pediatrician About These Health Screenings
The amount of preventive screenings that are generally good to get as we age increases as we get older. However, there are certain preventative check-ups that children can receive too!
Health screenings for toddlers, babies and older children include tests that check for any physical health issues and screenings for developmental issues.
A developmental screening puts a magnifying glass on how a child is developing mentally and could include evaluations of their use of language, movement, thinking, emotions, and behavior. This type of screening is recommended for children aged 9 months, 18 months, and 30 months old. Relatedly, it is also recommended that young children are screened for autism spectrum disorder at 18 and 24 months of age.
Here are two serious health issues that children age 2 through 12 years can be screened for:
Obesity: This is a growing issue for children in the United States. Being obese can have numerous health consequences including joint problems, sleep issues, high cholesterol, and even psychological problems. Children who are obese have more chances of having heart disease, certain cancers, and strokes when they are adults. To screen for obesity, a doctor will usually use a body mass index (BMI) scale.
Lead poisoning: Lead is a toxic metal that was once commonly used in paint, pipes, and canned food. Today we know that lead poisoning can cause brain and organ damage in children. Due to these risks, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children are screened for lead exposure at 6 months, 9 months, 12 months, 18 months, 24 months and at ages 3, 4, 5, and 6.
Next, discover the types of medical screenings that can be beneficial for women to receive.
As an adult, the health screenings that you should have depends largely on age, although it is recommended that certain screenings, including blood pressure and weight, are done annually regardless of how old you are. However, people of different ages will need different screenings. Additionally, another factor is your sex.
The following are some of the screenings that are recommended for women ages 18 through 39. They include cholesterol screenings as well as specific screenings such as mammograms.
2 Women Can Ask Their Doctor About These Health Screenings
Cholesterol: It is recommended that cholesterol testing is performed on women every 5 years their 20s and then annually after age 35. If your cholesterol levels are abnormal then your doctor may recommend that you have cholesterol testing done more often.
Skin cancer screening: Most doctors suggest that both men and women should have yearly skin checks done to check for suspicious skin lesions or moles.
Breast exam: It is recommended that this should be done every year to screen for breast lumps.
Pelvic exam: It is recommended that pelvic exams should be done every year.
Pap smear: It is recommended that women aged 21 and up should have pap smears every 3 years.
Blood pressure check: Blood pressure screenings are recommended every 2 years.
After age 40, women should continue to have the above health screenings in addition to the below:
- Breast exam & mammograms: After age 40, your doctor will probably recommend that you start to have yearly mammograms to screen for breast cancer. If you are at a higher risk for breast cancer due to family history or other medical conditions then you may want to start having mammograms at an earlier age.
- Blood glucose levels: This will screen for diabetes.
- Ovarian cancer screening: It is recommended that this is done every 3 years for post-menopausal women.
After age 50, it is recommended that women begin to have colonoscopies to screen for colorectal cancer and pre-cancerous polyps.
Make sure to ask your doctor about which health screenings you need.
Find out the health screenings that men should have.
While there are some medical screenings that both women and men should have, there are others that depend on your gender. Below are some of the important health screenings that are recommended for men. Keep in mind that the screenings will depend on your age, with older men requiring more screenings than younger men.
Some of these screenings can be done during a biometric screening, also known as a wellness screening. This type of health screening does not diagnose disease but it does measure possible risks for certain health issues.
3 Men Can Ask Their Doctor About These Health Screenings
At age 18, it is recommended that men start to have testicular exams.
Blood pressure screenings are recommended for men every 2 years, starting at age 18.
For men ages 18 and up, annual skin exams are usually recommended to check for signs of skin cancer.
Most doctors recommend that men be given cholesterol screenings starting in their 20s.
Starting from age 30, blood glucose tests are recommended to check for diabetes.
After age 50, colonoscopies are recommended to check for signs of colorectal cancer.
To screen for prostate cancer the recommended age for prostate exams for men is 50. However, high risk individuals should probably start to have prostate exams at age 40.
It is common for employers to request that their employees have biometric screenings done. This helps them assess the healthiness of their workforce. In some cases, companies have health professionals come to the office to conduct biometric screenings on site.
Biometric screenings are usually quick and may involve the below:
- Measurement of height and weight
- Blood pressure reading
- Blood testing- through finger pricks and/or by drawing blood
- Health questionnaire- this will be a form for you to fill out that asks about your medical history and lifestyle
Learn about the health screenings that older people should have.
When you are older, there are certain screenings that you should have in addition to the ones mentioned previously for younger ages. Many of these are for people of any sex. Here are some of the additional recommended health screenings for people age 65 and up. They include bone density screenings, hearing tests and other tests designed to keep seniors healthy.
There are also certain shots that older people may need to have, including pneumonia boosters and shingles vaccines. Shingles tends to occur when someone’s immune system is weakened. As a result, the condition occurs more frequently among older people. Shingles is a viral infection that usually results in a painful rash but in more serious cases it can lead to pneumonia, blindness, hearing issues, or death.
4 Seniors Can Ask Their Doctor About These Health Screenings
Bone density screening- It is recommended that this type of screening is done every 2 to 5 years after the age of 65.
Height & weight- Although these two things are monitored throughout our lives, health and weight screenings become especially important in older age as the risk of osteoporosis increases.
Osteoporosis is a condition that causes bones to become weak and brittle which can lead to dangerous bone fractures.
Bone density study- This type of screening is also done to check for the risk of osteoporosis. During a bone density test your body will be scanned using a portable machine that emits a low dose of X-rays that move slowly over your body.
Hearing tests- Doctors usually recommend that hearing tests are done more frequently as we age and hearing loss becomes more common.
This slideshow is a generalized overview of the health screenings you may need throughout your life. Make sure to ask your doctor to confirm exactly which health screenings you may need.
