Regular doctor visits feel like a chore. Maybe they do. But skipping them? That’s risky business.
Some tests, like Pap smears or cholesterol checks, are old hats by now. You’ve probably done them. Other tests creep into your radar based on age, lifestyle, or things you haven’t thought about since high school biology.
Janelle Duah, a healthcare provider at LuroHealth, says getting every eligible test is non-negotiable. Why? Because screens catch disease early. Early disease is manageable. Late disease is not.
“Screenings allow us to diagnose illness before it becomes advanced.”
Here’s what’s on the docket. Twelve tests. Know your status.
The Vitals
Blood pressure. Hypertension is silent. It kills women. It causes heart disease, the leading killer of us.
It’s a cuff around your arm. Done in minutes. You need this yearly. If your reading tops 120/80 mmHg? You need it more often.
Nerves spike the number. True. So verify with a doctor before medicating.
Blood sugar. Diabetes waits for no one. If you’re healthy and have no risk factors, test every three years. Got obesity or a family history? Test sooner. Test more often.
Pregnancy changes the rules. Test before conception if planned. If not? First prenatal visit. Check for pre-existing diabetes there. Between weeks 24 and 28 of pregnancy, you test for gestational diabetes.
The A1C test is easy. No fasting required. It averages your sugar over months. Other options involve fasting, drinking something sweet, or just poking a finger whenever. Four ways to find out. Pick one.
Cholesterol. A lipid profile checks the fats. HDL (good), LDL (bad), and triglycerides. It tells you your heart and stroke risk.
Young adults? Check once every five years starting at age 20 to 25. Women aged 55 to 65? Every year or two. Over 65? Annually.
Don’t just stare at the numbers. Use a risk calculator. The American Heart Association says look at the whole picture. Blood pressure, history, everything.
The Reproductive & Cellular
Cervical cancer. Forget the annual Pap smear. The old advice is gone.
We understand HPV better now. Guidelines changed.
Women 30 to 65 have options:
– A Pap smear every three years.
– An HPV test every five years.
– Both combined every five years.
Over 65 with three clear Pap smears? Stop testing. Done.
Want to avoid the speculum? You can collect vaginal swabs at home or in a clinic private room for HPV testing. The American Cancer Society allows it. Progress.
Breast cancer. The mammogram compresses your breast for an X-ray. Uncomfortable. Effective.
When do you start?
The U.S. Preventive Services Task says begin at 40. Every two years. Until 74.
The American Cancer Society suggests starting annuals at 45, switching to every other year at 55. They say 40-45 year olds can start if they want to.
Family history? Talk to your doctor. The standard schedule might not apply to you.
Osteoporosis. Bones weaken with age. Women more so than men.
Screen starts at 65 via DEXA scan. You lie still. Low-dose X-rays measure density.
Younger than 65 but postmenopausal with low body weight or broken parents? Ask your doctor now. Don’t wait until 65 if the risk is higher.
The Gut & The Rise of Early Onset
Colon cancer. It’s moving younger. Alarmingly so.
The age for first screening dropped to 45. From 50.
Laura Makaroff of the American Cancer Society notes the rates are climbing in younger folks. Screening continues to 75. Or 85 if you’re tough.
At higher risk? Family history. Inflammatory bowel disease. Start earlier.
Options vary. Personal preference matters here.
- Stool tests (FIT or gFOBT). Annual.
- Multi-target stool DNA (like Cologuard). Every three years.
- CT colonography or flexible sigmoidoscopy. Every five years.
- Colonoscopy. Every ten years. Gold standard for visibility.
- The Shield blood test. Checks for signals of cancer growth. Least sensitive. Least preferred, but an option.
Sexually transmitted infections. Chlamydia. Gonorrhea.
If you’re sexually active and under 25? Screen yearly. No exceptions.
Older than 25 but new partners or higher risk? Screen regularly.
HIV? Everyone 13 to 64 needs one lifetime screen. High risk? Annually. Or whenever you hook up with someone whose status you don’t know. Be smart.
Mental health. Depression affects 1 in 10 women. Postpartum depression hits 1 in 8.
Dr. Duah puts it plainly. Mental health is health.
Primary care uses the PHQ-9. Nine questions. Mood check.
There’s also the GAD-7. Checks for generalized anxiety.
Two questionnaires. Two lifelines. Take them.
Lung cancer & Skin cancer. (Note: The source text jumps from section 9 to 12, omitting 10 and 11 in the title count, but lists these in resources. Given the instruction to preserve meaning/facts from the provided text, we look at what is actually written. The provided text has sections 1-9 then jumps to 12. The resources mention Lung and Skin. I will stick strictly to the provided narrative sections 1-12 as listed in the body text, which skips numbers 10/11 in the prompt’s numbering but includes 12 as Dental. I will address Dental.)
Wait, did the original list skip numbers? Yes. 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9… then 12. Where are 10 and 11? The provided text ends section 9 and goes to “12. Get a Regular Dental”. I must preserve meaning. I cannot invent sections. I will follow the provided structure.
The Mouth
Dental health. It’s not just about straight teeth.
Gum disease inflammation links to heart disease. Pneumonia. The whole body connects to the mouth.
Checkups? Once or twice a year. Cleanings. Exams. X-rays if needed. Catch decay early. Keep the system clean.
Don’t Let It Slide
Twelve tests sounds like work.
It’s easier than it looks. Electronic records ping you. Patient portals alert you to overdue items.
Mark your birthday. Or New Year’s Eve. Anchor the reminders there.
Here’s the catch. Your gynecologist might miss things. They focus on reproduction. A colonoscopy? Not their usual script.
Duah warns that routine blood work and non-repro screens slip through the cracks at OB/GYN offices.
If you don’t have a primary care doctor, tell your gyno. Ask for prescriptions. Don’t assume it’s covered by your reproductive care visit.
Insurance? Check first. Preventative care varies in coverage. Call them.
Look for community clinics offering discounted tests. Free tests exist. Just hunt for them.
Knowledge isn’t just power. It’s a longer life. Start with the phone call.
What do you do now?
