Preventive health screenings are important to prevent diseases and detect problems early, when treatments work best. Receiving screenings as you age could mean living a longer, healthier life. This preventive care can help you continue feeling well so that you can be around for your loved ones for many years to come. Below are some key screenings you may need. Talk with your healthcare provider about whether you should be receiving them.

BLOOD PRESSURE SCREENING

• Have your blood pressure checked at least once every 2 years. If the top number (systolic number) is from 120 to 139, or the bottom number (diastolic number) is from 80 to 89 mm Hg, you should have it checked every year.
• If the top number is 130 or greater or the bottom number is 80 or greater, schedule an appointment with your provider to learn how you can reduce your blood pressure.
• If you have diabetes, heart disease, kidney problems, or certain other conditions, you may need to have your blood pressure checked more often, but still at least once a year.
• Watch for blood pressure screenings in your area. Ask your provider if you can stop in to have your blood pressure checked.

CHOLESTEROL SCREENING

• Recommended starting ages for cholesterol screening are age 45 for women with no known risk factors for coronary heart disease and age 20 for women with known risk factors for coronary heart disease.
• Women with normal cholesterol levels do not need to have the test repeated for 5 years.
• Repeat testing sooner than needed if changes occur in lifestyle (including weight gain and diet).
• If you have diabetes, heart disease, kidney problems, or certain other conditions, you may need to be monitored more closely.

DIABETES SCREENING

• If your blood pressure is 130/80 mm Hg or above, your provider may test your blood sugar level for diabetes.
• If you have a body mass index (BMI) greater than 25 and have other risk factors for diabetes, you should be screened. Having a BMI over 25 means that you are overweight. Asian Americans should be screened if their BMI is greater than 23. 
• If you have other risk factors for diabetes, such as a first degree relative with diabetes or history of heart disease, your provider will likely screen you for diabetes.
• If you are overweight and have other risk factors such as high blood pressure and are planning to become pregnant, screening is recommended

IMMUNIZATIONS

• You should get a flu shot every year.
• At or after age 19, you should have one tetanus-diphtheria and acellular pertussis (Tdap) vaccine as one of your tetanus-diphtheria vaccines if you did not receive it as an adolescent. You should have a tetanus-diphtheria booster every 10 years.
• You should receive two doses of varicella vaccine if you never had chickenpox or the varicella vaccine.
• You should receive one to two doses of the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine if you are not already immune to MMR. Your doctor can tell you if you are immune.
• Your provider may recommend other immunizations if you are at high risk for certain conditions, such as pneumonia.

Females can ask their provider about the human papilloma virus (HPV) vaccine if you are ages 19 to 26 and you have:

• Not received the HPV vaccine in the past
• Not completed the full vaccine series (you should catch up on this shot)

BREAST CANCER SCREENING 

• 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.
• Screening mammogram is not recommended for most women under age 40.
• If you have a mother or sister who had breast cancer at a young age, consider yearly mammograms. They should begin earlier than the age at which their youngest family member was diagnosed.
• If you have other risk factors for breast cancer, your provider may recommend a mammogram, breast ultrasound, or MRI scan.
• Contact your provider right away if you notice a change in your breasts, whether or not you do breast self-exams.
• If you are age 18 to 39, your provider may do a clinical breast exam.

CERVICAL CANCER SCREENING

• Women ages 21 through 29 should have a Pap test every 3 years. HPV testing is not recommended for this age group.
• Women ages 30 through 65 should be screened with either a Pap test every 3 years or the HPV test every 5 years.
• If you or your sexual partner has other new partners, you should have a Pap test every 3 years.
• Women who have been treated for precancer (cervical dysplasia) should continue to have Pap tests for 20 years after treatment or until age 65, whichever is longer.
• If you have had your uterus and cervix removed (total hysterectomy) and you have not been diagnosed with cervical cancer you may not need to have Pap smears.

COLONOSCOPY

• Colonoscopy is a procedure that lets your health care provider check the inside of your entire colon (large intestine).

For more information search Health Screenings at the Health Library at San Juan Regional Medical Center.