Skip to main content
Facilities Mobile homeFacilities News home
Story

My Health Coach: Get In “Full Screen” Mode

Many people are not aware of which screenings are recommended for their age or individual health profile. These tips from MyHealth Coach give information on recommended screenings.

Mon Jul 29, 2024

Health screenings: have you had yours? Many people are not aware of which screenings are recommended for their age or individual health profile. Health screenings are tests or procedures that are used preventatively to assess the likelihood that someone has a particular disease or illness. A screening could be a blood or imaging test, a physical exam, or a list of questions your provider asks you. A good screening test will target a disease or illness that has the potential to impact a large number of people and cause significant risk of death or disruption to life. Certain screenings are recommended at particular ages and stages, or if an individual is at a higher risk. It is important to be aware of any personal or family history that may place you at an increased risk of disease.

Here is a quick guide to recommended screenings per age group for average risk adults with no symptoms. Follow the guidance of your health care provider.

Age Recommended Screenings
20s
  • Yearly: Physical exam, height, weight, blood pressure
  • Yearly: Mental health
  • Yearly (Women): Pelvic exam, pap test
  • Monthly (Women): Self breast exam
  • Monthly: Self skin check
  • Monthly (Men): Self testicular exam
  • Every 3-5 years (Women): Cervical cancer screening
  • Every 4-6 years: Blood glucose, blood cholesterol
  • As needed and recommended: Sexually transmitted diseases
  • Women, yearly: Annual pelvic exam, pap test/cervial cancer scr
30s

Above screenings plus:

  • Starting at 35 and every 5 years after (earlier with any pregnancy): Thyroid screening
40s

Above screening plus:

  • Starting at 40 (Women): Mammogram as recommended by provider
  • Starting at 45: Colorectal cancer screening
  • Starting at 45 and every 3 years after: Type 2 diabetes screening
50s

Above screening plus:

  • Every 1-2 years: Blood cholesterol
  • Every 5 years (Women): Bone density test
  • Every 10 years: Cardiac calcium scoring
  • Every 10 years: Hearing
  • As recommended (Men): Prostate specific antigen
  • As recommended: Low-dose lung CT
60s +

Above screening plus:

  • Dementia and Alzheimer's screening
  • As recommended (Men): Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AA) screening

Routine health screenings play a vital role in maintaining overall health and wellness and your health care provider can advise you accordingly. If you want more information or are having difficulty locating low-cost health screenings, access the MyHealthfinder tool. August is also National Immunization Awareness Month, so don’t forget to ask your provider about preventative vaccines for your age group. Find out more at Vax Facts.

The My Health Coach program can also help support you when making changes around your health behaviors. Call 1-866-237-0973 or email [email protected] to learn more or to get started with free, confidential health coaching.

Sources: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion). (2024).

                    Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (2024).

                    U.S. Preventative Services Task Force. (2024).