At what age and how often?
Regular exams and checkups can potentially identify health issues before you know something is wrong. More important, health screenings can allow you to begin taking action, like starting preventive medication, sooner.
Health Screenings by Decade
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At Any Age
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 ANNUALLY
- Physical
- Eye exam
- Flu shot
- 2 dental check-ups
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Beginning In Your 20s:
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- Hearing test: every 10 years
- Diphtheria/Tetanus vaccine: every 10 years, up to age 65
- Lipid panel/ Cholesterol test: every 5 years Skin cancer exam: every 3 years
- Hepatitis C Virus test: one time as an adult, more frequently for certain at-risk populations
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MEN
- Testicular exam: annually
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WOMEN
- OB-GYN appointment: annually
- Pap smear test: every 3 years
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Beginning In Your 30s:
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- Blood Glucose test: every 5 years
- Lipid Panel/ Cholesterol test: annually at age 35
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MEN
- Cardiovascular risk tests: depending on risk factors
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WOMEN
- Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH) Test: every 5 years at 35 years ongoing
- Pap smear test: every 5 years ongoing
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Beginning In Your 40s:
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MEN
- Prostate Cancer screening or exam: if high risk
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WOMEN
- Mammogram: annually
- Physical breast exam: annually
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Beginning In Your 50s:
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- FIT or FOB test: annually
- Screening colonoscopy: every 10 years ongoing
- Hearing exam: annually ongoing
- SMOKERS: Ask your primary care doctor if you are a candidate for lung cancer screening
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MEN
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WOMEN
- Osteoporosis exam: depending on risk factors
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Beginning In Your 60s:
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- Shingles/Varicella Zoster vaccine: once
- Pneumonia vaccine: once
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MEN
- SMOKERS: between ages 65 -75: ONE TIME screening for Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm for men who have smoked at least 100 cigarettes in their lifetime.
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WOMEN
- Osteoporosis/ bone mineral density exam
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Beginning In Your 70s:
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- Ask your doctor about discontinuing screening colonoscopies
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WOMEN
- Ask your doctor about discontinuing mammograms
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