During your adult years, you need to take charge of your physical and emotional condition for a healthy future. Regular visits with your doctor can help you stay as healthy and active as possible and find problems before they become serious.
A health maintenance visit should include a review of your diet, exercise, sexual activity, medications, alcohol and tobacco use, stress management, accident prevention, as well as cancer and osteoporosis screenings.
Remember to talk to your doctor. Tell him or her of allergies and other health concerns you may have. Ask questions and make sure you understand your doctor’s instructions. Don’t be shy – your doctor doesn’t know if you don’t ask! Take your medication as your doctor prescribes – don’t miss even one day.
Healthy maintenance visits (check-ups) are recommended at the following intervals:
Annually for ages 20 and 21.
Every 1-3 years for ages 22-49, depending on risk factors
Annually for ages 50 and above.
The following are recommendations for routine health maintenance for women; your doctor may do other tests for specific problems.
20 to 39 years
Recommended screenings and lab exams:
Clinical breast exam every 3 years
Annual pelvic exam and Pap test 3 years after becoming sexually active or by age 21; every 2-3 years after age 30
Skin cancer – screen every 3 years
Blood pressure – every visit, at least once every 2 years
Cholesterol – initial screening if not previously tested; fasting lipoprotein profile every 5 years
Glaucoma – once between 20-39; annually if diabetic
Urinalysis, CBC, chemistry profile, rubella titer once as baseline
Immunizations:
Measles, mumps & rubella (MMR) if not previously immunized or have not had disease
Tetanus-Diphtheria (Td); booster every 10 years
Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) – through age 26 if not previously immunized
40 to 59 years
Recommended screenings and lab exams:
Annual clinical breast exam and mammogram
Pelvic exam and Pap test every 2-3 years
Annual skin cancer screening
Blood pressure – every visit; at least once every 2 years
Cholesterol – initial screening if not previously tested; fasting lipoprotein profile every 5 years
Glaucoma – every 2-4 years; annually if diabetic
Diabetes – screen every 3 years at age 45
Flexible sigmoidoscopy every 5 years over age 50 or colonoscopy every 10 years over age 50
Annual urinalysis, CBC, chemistry profile
Immunizations:
Influenza – annually at age 50
Pneumococcal – once at age 50 if not previously immunized
Tetanus-Diphtheria (Td) – booster every 10 years
60 years and over
Recommended screenings and lab exams:
Annual clinical breast exam and mammogram. After age 70 at physician/patient discretion
Pelvic exam and Pap test every 2-3 years. Discuss with physician after age 70 and consistently negative results
Annual skin cancer screening
Blood pressure – every visit, at least once every 2 years
Cholesterol – initial screening if not previously tested; fasting lipoprotein profile every 5 years
Glaucoma – every 2-4 years, every 1-2 years at age 65; annually if diabetic
Diabetes – screen every 3 years
Flexible sigmoidoscopy every 5 years or colonoscopy every 10 years
Annual urinalysis, CBC, chemistry profile
Immunizations:
Influenza – annually
Pneumococcal – once if not previously immunized or it has been 5 years since last immunization and first immunization before age 65
Tetanus-Diphtheria (Td) – booster every 10 years
