Chances are you get your car tuned regularly, never skip an oil change, and keep it buffed and polished till it sparkles. But are you taking such good care of yourself?
"Our busy lives and work schedules often prevent us from seeking routine preventive care," says Robert W. Brenner, MD, Chief Medical Officer and Founder of the Preventive Medicine Program at New Jersey-based Summit Medical Group. "But evidence-based preventive medicine is cost-effective and reduces the risk of illness and disease."
"Cars get routine check-ups. So do planes," adds Daniel Cosgrove, MD, Medical Director of the WellMax Center in La Quinta, California. "But for our bodies, the most precious thing we have, we wait for symptoms. And unfortunately, most diseases are far advanced by the time one gets symptoms."
Based on your individual health conditions, your doctor will determine which tests you should have, and how often to have them, but in general, the medical exams suggested below will help keep you a finely-tuned machine throughout your life.
In Your 20s
Annual physical exam by your primary care physician, including blood pressure, and height/weight checks
Screening for testicular cancer, including monthly self exams
Cholesterol testing every 5 years
Depending on your individual circumstances, your doctor may want to do an electrocardiogram to check for heart disease, and blood tests to screen for diabetes, thyroid disease, liver problems, and anemia
Depending on risk factors, your doctor may also recommend screening for skin cancer, sexually transmitted diseases, HIV infection, and alcohol abuse
In Your 30s
Annual physical exam by your primary care physician, including blood pressure, and height/weight checks
Screening for testicular cancer, including monthly self exams
Cholesterol testing every 5 years
Depending on your individual circumstances, your doctor may want to do an electrocardiogram to check for heart disease, and blood tests to screen for diabetes, thyroid disease, liver problems, and anemia
Depending on risk factors, your doctor may also recommend screening for skin cancer, oral cancer, sexually transmitted diseases, HIV infection, and alcohol abuse
Vision examination
Screening for coronary heart disease in individuals with strong family history and/or risk factors
In Your 40s
Annual physical exam by your primary care physician, including blood pressure, and height/weight checks
Screening for testicular cancer, including monthly self exams
Cholesterol testing every 5 years
Depending on your individual circumstances, your doctor may want to do an electrocardiogram to check for heart disease, and blood tests to screen for thyroid disease, liver problems, and anemia
Screening for prostate cancer
Diabetes screening every 3 years over the age of 45
Depending on risk factors, your doctor may also recommend screening for skin cancer, oral cancer, sexually transmitted diseases, and alcohol abuse
Vision examination
Screening for coronary heart disease in individuals with strong family history and/or risk factors
In Your 50s
Annual physical exam by your primary care physician, including blood pressure, and height/weight checks
Screening for testicular cancer, including monthly self exams
Cholesterol testing every 5 years
Annual screening for Type II diabetes
Depending on risk factors, your doctor may recommend screening for skin cancer, oral cancer, lung cancer, sexually transmitted diseases, and alcohol abuse
Screening for lipid disorders
Annual electrocardiogram
Vision and hearing examinations
Screening for prostate cancer
Screening for colon cancer with fecal occult blood testing, sigmoidoscopy, or colonoscopy at age 50
Screening for coronary heart disease in individuals with strong family history and/or risk factors
Screening for depression
In Your 60s
Annual physical exam by your primary care physician, including blood pressure, and height/weight checks
Screening for testicular cancer, including monthly self exams
Screening for prostate cancer
Screening for lipid disorders
Annual electrocardiogram
Discuss with your physician screening for coronary heart disease, abdominal aortic aneurysm, and carotid artery ultrasound screening
Vision and hearing examinations
Screening for osteoporosis
Depending on risk factors, your doctor may recommend screening for skin cancer, oral cancer, lung cancer sexually transmitted diseases, and alcohol abuse
Continue colorectal screening based upon previous studies and results
Screening for depression
Screening for dementia and Alzheimer's disease
In Your 70s and Up
Annual physical exam by your primary care physician, including blood pressure, and height/weight checks
Screening for testicular cancer, including monthly self exams
Screening for prostate cancer
Screening for lipid disorders
Annual electrocardiogram
Discuss with your physician screening for coronary heart disease, abdominal aortic aneurysm, and carotid artery ultrasound screening
Vision and hearing examinations
Screening for osteoporosis
Continue colorectal screening based upon previous studies and results. General screening until age 75. Discuss with your physician screening if aged 76-85 years old. Screening is not recommended for those greater than 85 years of age.
Depending on risk factors, your doctor may recommend screening for skin cancer, oral cancer, lung cancer, sexually transmitted diseases, and alcohol abuse
