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Definition

You should visit your health care provider regularly, even if you feel healthy. The purpose of these visits is to:

• Screen for medical issues
• Assess your risk for future medical problems
• Encourage a healthy lifestyle
• Update vaccinations and other preventive care services
• Help you get to know your provider in case of an illness

Information

Even if you feel fine, you should still see your provider for regular checkups. These visits can help you avoid problems in the future. For example, the only way to find out if you have high blood pressure is to have it checked regularly. High blood sugar and high cholesterol levels also may not have any symptoms in the early stages. A simple blood test can check for these conditions.

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. Below are screening guidelines for men age 65 and older.

ABDOMINAL AORTIC ANEURYSM SCREENING

• If you are age 65 to 75 and have smoked, you should have an ultrasound to screen for abdominal aortic aneurysms.
• Other men should discuss this screening with their provider.

BLOOD PRESSURE SCREENING

Have your blood pressure checked at least once every year. Watch for blood pressure screenings in your area. Ask your provider if you can stop in to have your blood pressure checked. You can also check your blood pressure using the automated machines at some local grocery stores and pharmacies.

Ask your provider if you need your blood pressure checked more often if

• You have diabetes, heart disease, kidney problems, or are overweight or have certain other conditions
• You have a first degree relative with high blood pressure
• You are Black
• Your blood pressure top number is from 120 to 129 mm Hg, or the bottom number is from 70 to 79 mm Hg

If the top number is 130 mm Hg or greater, but lower than 140 mm Hg or the bottom number is 80 mm Hg or greater but lower than 90 mm Hg, this is considered stage 1 hypertension. Readings above these are considered stage 2 hypertension. Schedule an appointment with your provider to learn how you can reduce your blood pressure. Record your blood pressure numbers and bring this information to share with your provider.

CHOLESTEROL SCREENING

If your cholesterol level is normal, your cholesterol should be checked every 5 years.

Repeat cholesterol testing or other additional monitoring should take place:

• Every 5 years for men with normal cholesterol levels
• More often if changes occur in lifestyle (including weight gain and diet)
• More often if you have diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, or blood flow problems in the legs or feet, or certain other conditions

Your provider may recommend testing more often if you are taking medicines to control high cholesterol.

COLORECTAL CANCER SCREENING

Until age 75, you should have screening for colorectal cancer on a regular basis. Several tests are available for colorectal cancer screening:

• A stool-based fecal occult blood (FOBT) or fecal immunochemical test (FIT) every year (colonoscopy is needed if results are positive)
• A stool DNA-FIT test every 1 to 3 years (colonoscopy is needed if results are positive)
• Flexible sigmoidoscopy every 5 years or every 10 years with stool occult blood testing with FOBT or FIT every year
• CT colonography (virtual colonoscopy) every 5 years
• Colonoscopy every 10 years

You may need a colonoscopy more often if you have risk factors for colorectal cancer, such as:

• Ulcerative colitis
• A personal or family history of cancer of the colon or rectum
• A history of growths in your colon called adenomatous polyps
• A family history of inherited colorectal cancer syndromes such as familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) or hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC)
• People ages 76 through 85 should talk with their health care provider about whether to continue to get screened. People ages 86 and older no longer need colorectal cancer screening.

DENTAL EXAM

• Go to the dentist once or twice every year for an exam and cleaning. Your dentist will evaluate if you have a need for more frequent visits.

PREDIABETES AND TYPE 2 DIABETES SCREENING

You should be screened for prediabetes and type 2 diabetes every 3 years up to age 70 if you are overweight or have obesity.

You should be tested more often if you have other risk factors for diabetes, such as:

• You have a first-degree relative with diabetes
• You have high blood pressure, prediabetes, or a history of heart disease

EYE EXAM

• Have an eye exam every year. Your provider may recommend more frequent eye exams if you have vision problems or glaucoma risk.
• Have an eye exam that includes an examination of your retina (back of your eye) at least every year if you have diabetes.

HEARING TEST

• Have your hearing tested if you have symptoms of hearing loss.

IMMUNIZATIONS

Commonly needed vaccines include:

• Flu shot: get one every year
• COVID-19 vaccine: ask you provider what is best for you
• Pneumococcal vaccines: you should receive the appropriate pneumococcal vaccines
• Shingles 2 doses of (herpes zoster) vaccine at or after age 50
• Tetanus-diphtheria and acellular pertussis (Tdap) vaccine: have as one of your tetanus-diphtheria vaccines if you did not receive it as an adolescent
• Tetanus-diphtheria: have a booster (Td or Tdap) every 10 years

INFECTIOUS DISEASE SCREENING

Screening for hepatitis C:

• All adults ages 18 to 79 should get a one-time test for hepatitis C.

Screening for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV): all people ages 15 to 65 should get a one-time test.

Depending on your lifestyle and medical history, you may need to be screened for infections such as syphilis, chlamydia, and other infections.

LUNG CANCER SCREENING

You should have an annual screening for lung cancer with low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) if:

• You are age 50 to 80 years AND
• You have a 20 pack-year smoking history AND
• You currently smoke or have quit within the past 15 years

OSTEOPOROSIS SCREENING

• If you have risk factors for osteoporosis, you should discuss screening with your provider.
• Risk factors can include long-term steroid use, low body weight, smoking, heavy alcohol use, having a fracture after age 50, or a family history of hip fracture or osteoporosis.

PHYSICAL EXAMS

All adults should visit their provider from time to time, even if they are healthy. The purpose of these visits is to:

• Screen for diseases
• Assess risk of future medical problems
• Encourage a healthy lifestyle
• Update vaccinations and other preventive care services
• Maintain a relationship with a provider in case of an illness

In addition:

• Your blood pressure should be checked at least every year.
• Your height, weight, and body mass index (BMI) should be checked at every exam.

During your exam, your provider may ask you about:

• Depression and anxiety
• Diet and exercise, including exercises to improve your balance and reduce your risk of falling
• Alcohol and tobacco use
• Safety, such as use of seat belts and smoke detectors and intimate partner violence
• Whether you have had any falls or are afraid of falling
• Your medicines and risk for interactions

PROSTATE CANCER SCREENING

If you're 55 through 69 years old, before having the test, talk to your provider about the pros and cons of having a prostate specific antigen (PSA) blood test. Ask about:

• Whether screening decreases your chance of dying from prostate cancer.
• Whether there is any harm from prostate cancer screening, such as side effects from testing or overtreatment of cancer when discovered.
• Whether you have a higher risk of prostate cancer than others.

For men 70 or older, most recommendations are against screening.

If you choose to be tested, the PSA blood test is repeated over time (yearly or less often), though the best frequency is not known.

• Prostate physical examinations are no longer routinely done on men with no symptoms.

SKIN EXAM

• Have had skin cancer before
• Have close relatives with skin cancer
• Have a weakened immune system 

 TESTICULAR EXAM

• The US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) now recommends against performing testicular self-exams. Doing testicular self-exams has been shown to have little to no benefit.

References

American Academy of Ophthalmology website. Clinical statement: Comprehensive adult medical eye examination PPP 2020. www.aao.org/education/preferred-practice-pattern/comprehensive-adult-medical-eye-evaluation-ppp. Updated November 2020. Accessed June 11, 2024.

American Dental Association website. Your top 9 questions about going to the dentist - answered. www.mouthhealthy.org/en/dental-care-concerns/questions-about-going-to-the-dentist. Accessed June 11, 2024.

American Diabetes Association Professional Practice Committee. 2. Diagnosis and Classification of Diabetes: Standards of Care in Diabetes-2024. Diabetes Care. 2024;47(Suppl 1):S20-S42. PMID: 38078589 pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38078589/.

Barton MB, Wolff TA. The preventive health visit. In: Goldman L, Cooney K, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 27th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2024:chap 12.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website. Vaccines & Immunizations. www.cdc.gov/vaccines/hcp/imz-schedules/adult-age.html. Adult Immunization Schedule by Age (Addendum updated June 27, 2024). Recommendations for Ages 19 Years or Older, United States, 2024. Updated November 16, 2023. Accessed September 16, 2024.

Grundy SM, Stone NJ, Bailey AL, et al. 2018 AHA/ACC/AACVPR/AAPA/ABC/ACPM/ADA/AGS/APhA/ASPC/NLA/PCNA Guideline on the Management of Blood Cholesterol: A Report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Task Force on Clinical Practice Guidelines [published correction appears in J Am Coll Cardiol. 2019;25;73(24):3237-3241]. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2019;73(24):e285-e350. PMID: 30423393 pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30423393/.

Meschia JF, Bushnell C, Boden-Albala B, et al. Guidelines for the primary prevention of stroke: a statement for healthcare professionals from the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association. Stroke. 2014;45(12):3754-3832. PMID: 25355838 pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25355838/.

Mora S, Libby P, Ridker PM. Primary prevention of cardiovascular disease. In: Libby P, Bonow RO, Mann DL, Tomaselli GF, Bhatt DL, Solomon SD, eds. Braunwald's Heart Disease: A Textbook of Cardiovascular Medicine. 12th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2022:chap 25.

US Preventive Services Task Force website. Falls prevention in community-dwelling older adults: Interventions. www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/uspstf/recommendation/falls-prevention-community-dwelling-older-adults-interventions. Published June 4, 2024. Accessed June 11, 2024.

US Preventive Services Task Force website. Final recommendation statement. Colorectal cancer: Screening. www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/uspstf/recommendation/colorectal-cancer-screening. Published May 18, 2021. Accessed June 11, 2024.

US Preventive Services Task Force website. Final recommendation statement. Hepatitis C virus infection in adolescents and adults: Screening. www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/uspstf/recommendation/hepatitis-c-screening. Published March 2, 2020. Accessed June 11, 2024.

US Preventive Services Task Force website. Final recommendation statement. Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection: Screening. www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/uspstf/recommendation/human-immunodeficiency-virus-hiv-infection-screening. Published June 11, 2019. Accessed June 11, 2024.

US Preventive Services Task Force website. Hypertension in adults: Screening. www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/uspstf/recommendation/hypertension-in-adults-screening. Published April 27, 2021. Accessed June 11, 2024. 

US Preventive Services Task Force website. Final recommendation statement: Lung cancer: Screening. www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/uspstf/recommendation/lung-cancer-screening. Updated March 9, 2021. Accessed June 11, 2024.

US Preventive Services Task Force website. Final recommendation statement: Osteoporosis to prevent fracture: Screening. www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/uspstf/recommendation/osteoporosis-screening. Updated June 26, 2018. Accessed June 11, 2024.

US Preventive Services Task Force website. Prediabetes and type 2 diabetes: Screening. www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/uspstf/recommendation/screening-for-prediabetes-and-type-2-diabetes. Updated August 24, 2021. Accessed June 11, 2024.

US Preventive Services Task Force website. Final recommendation statement. Prostate cancer: Screening. www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/uspstf/recommendation/prostate-cancer-screening. Updated May 8, 2018. Accessed June 11, 2024.

US Preventive Services Task Force website. Skin cancer: Screening. www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/uspstf/recommendation/skin-cancer-screening. Updated April 18, 2023. Accessed June 11, 2024.

US Preventive Services Task Force website. Testicular cancer: Screening. www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/uspstf/recommendation/testicular-cancer-screening. Published April 15, 2011. Accessed June 11, 2024.

Whelton PK, Carey RM, Mancia G, Kreutz R, Bundy JD, Williams B. Harmonization of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association and European Society of Cardiology/European Society of Hypertension Blood Pressure/Hypertension Guidelines: Comparisons, Reflections, and Recommendations. Circulation. 2022;146:868–877. PMID: 35950927
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35950927/.

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