We get it – no one loves getting their annual exams, but they’re an important part of being healthy. Find a physician to make your appointment with, take a day off to get your exams and download our checklist to make sure you get all your screenings checked off for the year.
Lifelong Exams
- Hearing and vision exam: Hearing and vision change over time. The American Osteopathic Association recommends hearing and vision exam frequency based on age:
- Under 40: Every five to 10 years
- 40-54: Every two to four years
- 55-64: Every one to three years
- Over 65: Every one to two years
- Dental care: Keep your smile clean and healthy by visiting the dentist every six months.
- Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs) check: Discuss with your physician how often you should be screened for STDs. All adults should be screened for hepatitis B, hepatitis C and HIV after 18 years of age.
- Blood pressure check: Make sure your blood pressure is checked every year.
- Oral health and cancer: You should get a mouth and throat exam every year.
- Self-Awareness: Every month, you should check for abnormalities and discuss any findings with your physician.
- Breast: Feel and look at your breasts at the same time each month.
- Skin: Check for changes in moles, freckles or sunspots.
In Your 20s and 30s
- Health maintenance exam: Establish this healthy habit in your 20s and 30s by getting this exam annually. Your doctor will review your overall health status by completing a physical exam, recommending lab tests as indicated, assessing lifestyle habits, reviewing immunization status and screening for depression and domestic violence.
- Reproductive health and cervical cancer screening: Start getting this screening at 21, and then every three years or every five years if your pap smear is combined with HPV testing.
- Blood and urine tests: Screen for cholesterol levels and diabetes.
- Cholesterol screening: Lipid screening for cholesterol is recommended every five years.
- Diabetes screening: Start at age 35, and screen every three years. Diabetes screening is recommended before age 35 if you are overweight, have relatives with diabetes or experience other symptoms.
- EKG: You should get your first EKG at 30 to monitor your heart rhythm to check for any problems. If you are asymptomatic after your initial screening, there are no recommendations for routine screening
In Your 40s
- Mammogram: Mammograms start at 40. Make sure to get this preventative breast cancer screening every year.
- Colonoscopy: Start screening for colon cancer when you turn 45. Average-risk individuals should consider stool-based testing, like a colonoscopy. Based on findings, follow-up between three and 10 years.
- Coronary artery calcium score: If you don’t have a history of heart or vascular disease, get screened after age 40.
Screenings to keep up with:
- Health maintenance exam: Keep getting this every year.
- Blood and urine tests: Continue routine lipid (every five years) and diabetes (every three years) screenings..
In Your 50s, 60s and 70s
- Bone Mineral Density Test: You should start getting this test when you’re postmenopausal to screen for bone loss.
- Lung cancer screening: Starting at age 50, if you smoked a pack or more for 30 years and quit within the last 15 years, talk with your physician about getting this screening.
Screenings to keep up with:
- Health maintenance exam: You should still get this every year.
- Blood and urine tests: Same as in your 40s; continue your routine lipid (every five years) and diabetes (every three years) screenings.
- Bone Mineral Density Test: If you are over 65 or postmenopausal aged 50-65 with high-risk factors, talk with your physician about how often you should get this test. Risk factors include:
- Family history: Parent with a history of hip or spine fractures
- Medication: Long-term use of steroids or anticonvulsants
- Lifestyle: Smoking, excessive alcohol consumption or low calcium or vitamin D intake
- Health conditions: Early menopause, rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes, hyperthyroidism or chronic digestive disorders
- Body weight: Low body weight
- Mammogram: Keep getting a mammogram every year. After age 75, discuss the risks and benefits of routine screenings with your physician.
Find a doctor to help you navigate all the necessary screenings!
