Stay on top of your health

Preventative care can help keep you in good health. It’s important to follow these guidelines throughout your lifetime to help detect and prevent disease. The following recommendations are a minimum for healthy adults.

NOTE: These minimum recommendations for care do not replace the judgment of you or your healthcare provider.Preventive Healthcare Guidelines are intended for people who are at low risk for developing disease and have no disease symptoms. If you have certain risk factors or symptoms, you may need to have some tests more frequently than guidelines specify. Discuss with your physician what is best for you.

Adult Immunization:

    • Every 10 years. Tetanus immunization
    • Age 65. Annual influenza vaccination and Pneumococcal vaccination. Also recommended for those with chronic health conditions.
    • Ask your provider about other vaccines that might be applicable to you.

Blood Pressure:

  • All ages. Those who do not have a history of high blood pressure should have it checked annually.

Chlamydia Screening:

  • Annual screening for those who are sexually active.

Cholesterol and Lipid Screening:

  • Men age 35/Women age 45, and every 5 years after. Lipid screening profile (total cholesterol, HDL and LDL) to check for risk factors for coronary artery disease including hypertension, diabetes, obesity (BMI >30), personal or family history of coronary heart disease, and tobacco use.

Colon Cancer Screening:

  • Ages 50-80. Colonoscopy or an annual fecal occult blood test every 10 years.Flexible sigmoidoscopy every 5 years.

Depression Screening:

  • Age 18. Annual screen for depression

Breast Cancer Screening:

  • Women Age 50. Screening mammogram and an annual physical breast exam every 1-2 years. 

Cervical Cancer Screening:

  • Age 21 or 3 years after onset of sexual activity. Annual pap smear. Then 1 every 3 years after 3 consecutive normal results over 5 years.
  • Women 65+. Those with a new sexual partner should resume routine screening.

Osteoporosis Screening:

  • Women Ages 50-70. Osteoporosis screening. Discuss with your healthcare provider.

Prostate Cancer Screening:

  • Men Ages 50-75. Prostate cancer screening every 2 years.
 

Human Papillomavirus:

  • All preteens need the HPV vaccination so they can be protected from HPV infections that cause cancer.
  • Teens and young adults who didn't start or finish the HPV vacinne series also need HPV vaccination.
  • Young women can get HPV vaccine until they are 27 years old.
  • Young men can get the HPV caccine until they are 22 years old.

Disease Management:

If you have an on-going condition, it is important to pay extra attention to assure that monitoring and treatment are as effective as possible.Your physician will be happy to discuss these guidelines with you.

Asthma:

An annual asthma-focused visit and lung function test as needed
 
Cardiovascular Disease:

  • A blood pressure check 2 times per year
  • Maintain a blood pressure of less than 140/90
  • An annual blood test to check your LDL (low density lipoprotein or “bad” cholesterol)
  • Maintain LDL (low density lipoprotein or “bad” cholesterol) level at less than 100 mg/dl 

High Blood Pressure:

  • An annual physical exam and a blood pressure check 2 times per year
  • Maintain a blood pressure of less than 140/90
  • A blood test to check your blood cholesterol level if you have other risk factors such as a family history of heart disease

Diabetes:

  • A blood test to check your HgbA1C every 6 months
  • Maintain an HgbA1c level of less than 8.0 percent
  • An annual lipid blood test to include HDL (high density lipoprotein), LDL (low density lipoprotein) and tryglycerides
  • Maintain LDL (low density lipoprotein or “bad” cholesterol) level at less than 100 mg/dl
  • An annual urine exam to check for protein (and thus kidney function)
  • An annual dilated eye exam for blood vessel changes related to diabetes
  • A blood pressure check 2 times per year
  • Maintain a blood pressure of less than 140/90
  • An annual foot exam by your provider