Annual Checkups You Shouldn’t Skip

There is no denying that prevention is superior to treatment when it comes to healthcare. Heading off disease and illness is preferential to treating it whenever possible. Thankfully, there are many ways to prevent unwanted and unnecessary illnesses and diseases through annual checkups, exams, and screenings.

Depending on age, there are recommended tests and screenings for men and women throughout their lives. While some are less of an issue in younger years, additional tests come into play as we age.

Let’s take a look:

Women ages 18-39
? Blood pressure
? Cholesterol
? Diabetes
? Pelvic and breast exams, including STD screenings
? Skin exams

Women ages 50-above
? Blood pressure
? Cholesterol
? Diabetes
? Pelvic and breast exams, including mammograms
? Skin exams
? Colon cancer screenings
? Osteoporosis screenings
? Lung Cancer screenings
? Hormone screenings

Men ages 18-49
? Blood pressure
? Cholesterol
? Diabetes
? STD screenings
? Skin exams
? Testicular screenings

Men ages 50-above
? Blood pressure
? Cholesterol
? Diabetes
? Skin exams
? Colon cancer screenings
? Osteoporosis screenings
? Lung cancer screenings
? Prostate cancer screenings

As you can see, there aren’t many differences in the sort of and type of screenings men and women should be having. Other than reproductive organ differences, men and women have virtually the same systems that are at risk as they age. Screening and looking for changes or alerts of potential issues can make aging easier and catch anything that may be a health threat.

While this list is general, there may be more specialized tests that are recommended based on the individual needs of each person. From hormone testing to genetic issues, every person is unique and deserves a highly personalized well-care plan.

In addition to cancer screenings and other tests, here are some additional tests that should be done every year at a minimum, unless your physician directs you otherwise:

? Eye exams
? Hearing tests
? Dental screenings

These are equally important for great health and remaining independent as we grow older. Issue such as cataracts, hearing loss, and dental diseases can dramatically affect health and quality of life.

Managing health is a lifelong commitment. Many of the checkups taken in younger years can prevent illness, injury, and disease in later years. Consistent and routine medical checkups can make life easier and healthier for you and your family. Schedule your checkups and encourage those you love to do the same.