Your guide to annual health screenings 18 to 39 years old Annual health screenings at this age are often overlooked or not prioritized, but even young, healthy adults should be screened for these baseline indicators: • Blood pressure • Cholesterol • Skin exams • Family medical history • Immunizations • Mental health In addition, women in this age group should have breast exams and cervical cancer screenings. 40 to 64 years old Based on health status and family medical history, the annual screenings for people in this age group will be individualized. These are likely to check for: • Colorectal cancer • Osteoporosis • Lung cancer if a past or current smoker • Breast cancer with screening mammograms and cervical cancer with pelvic exams for women • Prostate cancer with a prostate exam for men beginning at age 50 65 and older As the body ages, the incidence of disease increases and regular screenings become all the more important. Some of the basics include: • Blood pressure screening to identify and manage hypertension. Hypertension is often referred to as a “silent killer,” as its presence is often not known until too late. Hypertension is associated with a higher risk of cardiovascular disease, kidney disease and heart attacks. • Cholesterol screening tests for LDL (the “bad” cholesterol) and HDL (the “good” cholesterol). An excess of LDL or an insufficient amount of HDL is associated with heart attacks and stroke. • Older women are particularly at risk for developing osteoporosis, making regular bone density screenings important. 2 | GRMC Health Currents
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