Hypertension Management Spotlight
Clemson Extension Rural Health and Nutrition Team
Health screenings are the best way to identify diseases in the earliest stages before the onset of signs and symptoms. Even when you are feeling well, it is important to schedule regular checkups with your healthcare provider. These routine visits play a crucial role in preventing potential issues in the future. Individuals who maintain regular appointments with their healthcare provider and undergo routine screenings increase their chances of receiving an early diagnosis in the event of a medical condition. This, in turn, contributes to improved outcomes and a longer lifespan.
Regular screenings also provide an opportunity for physicians to track and compare test results over time, enhancing the likelihood of preventing potential issues through interventions such as medications or lifestyle adjustments. The type of routine screenings you may need changes as you age and will depend on your personal and family medical history and risk factors for certain diseases.
There are specific times when you should see your provider or receive specific health screenings. The US Preventive Services Task Force publishes a list of recommended screenings. These are the screening guidelines for women and men by age.
Guidelines For Women
| Screening Type | Name of Screening | Ages 18-39 |
Ages 40-64 |
Ages 65 and older |
| Bone Health | Bone density test (DEXA scan) | Discuss with provider | Age 50 to 64 if you have risk factors for osteoporosis | At least once at some point during this age range |
| Breast Cancer | Mammogram | Not recommended | Every 1-2 years | Every 1-2 years up to age 75 |
| Cervical Cancer | Pap test | Start at age 21 and continue every 3 years | Every 3 years | Discuss with provider |
| HPV test | After age 30, test every 5 years | Every 5 years | Discuss with provider | |
| Colorectal Health | Stool-based fecal occult blood (gFOBT) or fecal immunochemical test (FIT) | Discuss with provider | Every year | Continue regularly until age 75, then discuss with provider |
| Stool sDNA-FIT test | Discuss with provider | Every 1-3 years | Continue regularly until age 75, then discuss with provider | |
| Sigmoidoscopy | Discuss with provider | Every 5 years or every 10 years with stool testing with FIT every year | Continue regularly until age 75, then discuss with provider | |
| Colonoscopy | Discuss with provider | Every 10 years | Continue regularly until age 75, then discuss with provider | |
| Diabetes | Blood glucose test | Start at age 35 and repeat every 3 years if you have no risk factors for diabetes | Every 3 years, if you have no risk factors for diabetes | Every 3 years |
| Ear Health | Hearing test | Start at age 18, then every 10 years | Every 10 years ages 40 to 49, then every 3 years after age 50 | Every 3 years |
| Eye Health | Eye exam | Every 5-10 years before age 40. If you have vision problems, increase to every 2 years | Every 2-4 years ages 40 to 54, and every 1-3 years ages 55 to 64 | Every 1-2 years |
| Heart Health | Blood pressure test | At least once every 3-5 years | Once a year | Once a year |
| Cholesterol test | Start at age 20 if you have known risk factors for coronary heart disease and repeat every 5 years | Start at age 45 with no known risk factors and repeat every 5 years | Every 5 years | |
| Lung Health | Low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) | Discuss with provider | Annually, if all are present:
– Above age 50 – Have a 20 pack/year smoking history – Currently smoke or have quit within the past 15 years |
Annually, if both are present:
– Have a 20 pack/year smoking history – Currently smoke or have quit within the past 15 years |
| Oral Health | Dental exam | Once or twice every year for an exam and cleaning | Once or twice every year for an exam and cleaning | Once or twice every year for an exam and cleaning |
Guidelines For Men
| Screening Type | Name of Screening | Ages 18-39 |
Ages 40-64 |
Ages 65 and older |
| Bone Health | Bone density test (DEXA scan) | Discuss with provider | Age 50 to 64 if you have risk factors for osteoporosis | At least once at some point during this age range |
| Colorectal Health | Stool-based fecal occult blood (gFOBT) or fecal immunochemical test (FIT) | Discuss with provider | Every year | Continue regularly until age 75, then discuss with provider |
| Stool sDNA-FIT test | Discuss with provider | Every 1-3 years | Continue regularly until age 75, then talk to provider | |
| Sigmoidoscopy | Discuss with provider | Every 5 years or every 10 years with stool testing with FIT every year | Continue regularly until age 75, then discuss with provider | |
| Colonoscopy | Discuss with provider | Every 10 years | Continue regularly until age 75, then discuss with provider | |
| Diabetes | Blood glucose test | Start at age 35 and repeat every 3 years if you have no risk factors for diabetes | Every 3 years if you have no risk factors for diabetes | Every 3 years |
| Ear Health | Hearing test | Start at age 18, then every 10 years | Every 10 years ages 40 to 49, then every 3 years after age 50 | Every 3 years |
| Eye Health | Eye exam | Every 5-10 years before age 40. If you have vision problems, increase to every 2 years | Every 2-4 years ages 40 to 54, and every 1-3 years ages 55 to 64 | Every 1-2 years |
| Heart Health | Blood pressure test | At least once every 3-5 years | Once a year | Once a year |
| Cholesterol test | Start at age 35 if you have no known risk factors for coronary heart disease; age 20 with known risk factors | Every 5 years | Every 5 years | |
| Ultrasound for abdominal aortic aneurysm | Not recommended | Discuss with provider | Discuss with provider if you have smoked | |
| Lung Health | Low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) | Discuss with provider | Annually, if all are present:
– Above age 50 – Have a 20 pack/year smoking history – Currently smoke or have quit within the past 15 years |
Annually, if both are present:
– Have a 20 pack/year smoking history – Currently smoke or have quit within the past 15 years |
| Oral Health | Dental exam | Once or twice every year for an exam and cleaning | Once or twice every year for an exam and cleaning | Once or twice every year for an exam and cleaning |
| Prostate Cancer | Rectal exam | Discuss with provider | Every 5-10 years, with each colorectal screening | Every 5-10 years, with each colorectal screening until age 70 |
| Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test | Discuss with provider | Discuss with provider | Discuss with provider |
The Importance of Health Screenings
Getting recommended screenings is one of the most important things you can do for your health. When you skip or postpone health screenings, you could delay detecting disease. Prevention is the best way to avoid costly treatments in the future, to reduce stress, to save time, and to promote healthy behaviors. It is important to talk with your doctor and ask questions so that you understand your health/diagnosis. Ensure that you are comfortable discussing the doctor’s medical plan for managing your diagnosis. For further resources or local educational programs, refer to other fact sheets on the Home & Garden Information Center website.
Sources:
- Health screenings for women ages 18 to 39: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia. (n.d.). https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/007462.htm
- Health screenings for women ages 40 to 64: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia. (n.d.). https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/007467.htm
- Health screenings for women age 65 and older: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia. (n.d.). https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/007463.htm
- Health screenings for men ages 18 to 39: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia. (n.d.). https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/007464.htm
- Health screenings for men ages 40 to 64: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia. (n.d.). https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/007465.htm
- Health screenings for men age 65 and older: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia. (n.d.). https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/007466.htm
- Routine screenings. (n.d.). Johns Hopkins Medicine. https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/treatment-tests-and-therapies/routine-screenings
- Pierce, J., DO. (2023, August 16). Why is health screening important? Preventative Diagnostic Center. https://www.pdcenterlv.com/blog/why-is-health-screening-important/
