Health Screenings You May Need

Suggested for people ages 45-75

A colorectal cancer screening can find and remove growths in the colon and rectum before they turn into cancer. There are two types of screenings to find colorectal cancer:

• Stool sample
• Colonoscopy (visual screening)

People between the ages 45-75 should get screened for colorectal cancer every one to ten years. Talk to your doctor to find out which test is best for you.

Suggested for people age 20 and older

High cholesterol also raises your risk for heart disease. A cholesterol screening is done with a blood test.

Those age 20 and older should get tested every four to six years.

Suggested for people ages 35-70

This screening will measure the amount of sugar in your blood. If your sugars are high, eating a healthier diet and living a more active life can help cut your risk of getting diabetes.

Those between the ages 35-70 should test for diabetes every three years.

Suggested for any person who smokes or has quit smoking within the last 15 years

To screen for lung cancer, doctors use imaging (CT scan). This screening can help find lung cancer at an early stage, when treatment will work best.

You need a yearly screening if you are 50-80 years old and smoke and also if you've quit smoking within the past 15 years.

Suggested for people age 18 and older

Nearly half of adults in the US have high blood pressure, making it a very common but serious health problem. Some people only need a blood pressure screening every two to five years. This includes those age 18 and over with healthy blood pressure and no heart disease risk factors.

Others may need a blood pressure screening each year. This includes:

• People age 40 and older
• Those under 40 with a high risk of high blood pressure
• Those with diabetes

Suggested for people age 12 and older

All adolescents and adults should get screened for depression each year. Your PCP can provide a depression screening, which is a quick set of questions you'll answer related to signs of depression.

Suggested for women ages 40-74

A mammogram is a breast X-ray. This screening can find breast cancer early when it’s most treatable. If cancer is found early, your chance of a cure is much higher.

Women should get screened every two years, from ages 40-74.

Suggested for women ages 21-64

During a Pap test, your doctor collects cells from the surface of the cervix to check for pre-cancer cells. Women ages 21-29 should get a Pap test every three years.

An HPV test tells whether you carry the virus that leads to cervical cancer. Women should have an HPV swab, with or without a pap test, every five years from ages 30-64.

Suggested for women ages 16-24 if sexually active

Chlamydia is a sexually transmitted infection (STI). Doctors most often use urine samples to screen for chlamydia. The doctor might also use a cotton swab to collect a fluid sample from your genitals or throat.

Women between the ages 16-24 who are sexually active should test for chlamydia once a year.