There’s an old-time proverb that has remained true throughout the generations: An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. And there’s perhaps no better way to prevent or minimize illnesses than to get our regularly-scheduled health screenings.
So why is it that, according to Medical Economics, a whopping 90% of Americans delay their routine health screenings? And 9 out of 10 Americans delay medical checkups that could catch serious illnesses early, before they become harder to manage.*
Some of us delay screenings because we don’t want to take off work or disrupt our routine. Some simply just fear bad news. And some people just think they’re not necessary—that if we feel good, our health must be in tip-top shape.
Well, we need to change this paradigm because regular health screenings can do all this for us and our loved ones:
- Identify hidden health issues: Many serious, life-threatening conditions such as hypertension, diabetes and cancer can grow quietly without obvious symptoms.
- Improve treatment success rates: When caught early, most diseases can be kept in check by making lifestyle and dietary changes, or getting treatment before the disease escalates to cause further damage to the body.
- Keep costs down: Finding health issues before they escalate can reduce the need for costly treatments and hospital stays.
- Reduce health-related anxiety: Many people worry about their health, especially if they have a family history of diseases like cancer, diabetes, and high blood pressure. Keeping up with screenings and check-ups can alleviate this stress.
- Encourage healthy lifestyle changes: Seeing is believing, and when early screening reveals certain risk factors, it’s often an important catalyst for change, like quitting smoking, drinking less, eating a healthier diet, and more.
Now that you know the benefits of preventative screenings, where should you start? Right here. This list below outlines what screenings are most important for us to get per our age. Keep in mind that the tests below are not exhaustive and that if certain illnesses or conditions run in your family, it’s important to discuss them with your doctor. He or she will most likely want to add some additional tests to help ensure you stay healthy!
From infancy to adolescence:
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) provides guidelines for health screenings focused on preventative pediatric care from birth to 21 years old.** Since health needs can differ so much from year to year in children, it’s important to consult the annual guidelines to understand what’s needed at each stage of development. In addition to body measurements—such as height, weight, blood pressure, and temperature—physicians will screen for sensory, social, and mental health development. The guidelines also include a list of the recommended procedures, such as immunizations and blood draws. The first several years of a child’s life are critical for health and development. It’s important that parents and guardians understand what screenings, immunizations and health measurements are required for each stage of a child’s early years.
When you’re in your twenties:
You’re never too young to prepare for a healthy future!*** That’s why certain preventative screenings are so important, even when in your twenties. Wellness visits that check your overall health—including height, weight, and BMI—are important indicators for health risks. Both the American Cancer Society (ACS) and the American Academy of Dermatology also suggest regular skin self-exams, so you can identify changes over time. Other tests include those for:
- Hepatitis C
- Sexually transmitted infections including HIV (if you’re sexually active)
- Cervical cancer for women (pap smear)
- Blood pressure
- Eye exam
- Oral exam
- Dental cleanings
- Cholesterol
- Diabetes
- Testicular testing for men
- Mental health, including depression and suicide risks
When you’re in your thirties:
Some early signs and sneaky changes start to happen when we’re in our thirties. Most of us still feel young and invincible, but believe it or not, our hormones are already starting to decline, our metabolism starts slowing down, and our blood sugar might start to rise without any obvious symptoms. While there are no new tests to begin, it’s highly recommended that you repeat all the screenings you should have while in your twenties (see list above).
When you’re in your forties:
Our forties bring forth a lot of physical changes. For women, hormones such as estrogen and progesterone start to drop sharply, and we typically enter perimenopause. Men also experience a steady hormonal decline, and diminishing testosterone may reduce libido, energy, and muscle strength. As we enter this phase of middle age, we need to continue the screenings of the past decade, but now add in a few more including:
- Breast exams (mammography)
- Colonoscopy
- Prostate cancer screenings
When you’re in your fifties:
This is a tough one for some people, especially if we’ve been lax in our screenings over the past decades. Women will typically go through menopause and can experience increased risk of heart disease and bone loss. Men often experience a continued loss of testosterone and another hormone called DHE. For all of us, metabolism slows significantly. As we hit our fifties, it’s more important than ever to continue health screenings:****
- Hepatitis C
- Sexually transmitted infections including HIV if you’re sexually active
- Cervical cancer for women
- Blood pressure
- Eye exam
- Oral exam
- Dental cleanings
- Cholesterol
- Diabetes
- Testicular testing for men
- Mental Health, including depression and suicide risks
- Breast cancer/mammography
- Colon cancer/colonoscopy
- Prostate cancer
When you’re in your sixties and beyond
What happens to our bodies when we enter our sixties? We need to stay on top of things like our bone and joint health. We may notice changes to our skin that include the skin getting drier, thinner, or less elastic. And yes, we can experience decreased muscle mass and strength, and notice vision and hearing changes. All these conditions are normal and should be discussed with your doctor. Aside from that, we should continue regular screenings, and add a few new ones including:
- Bone mineral density scan
- Abdominal aortic aneurysm screening
Aging is a badge of honor, and here at Premier Medical, we believe in keeping our community healthy and happy no matter what stage of life our patients are in. Call us at any time to discuss getting a check-up and screening. Simply visit us at https://www.premiermedicalhv.com/ or reach us at 845-565-4400.
*[https://www.medicaleconomics.com/view/90-of-americans-delay-preventive-screenings-aflac-survey-finds]
***[https://www.ameriplanusa.com/medical-tests-in-20s/]
****[https://www.webmd.com/healthy-aging/preventive-care-over-50]