Screening Checklist
Another part of an effective health maintenance plan is staying on the lookout for possible problems and tending to them in early stages, while they are still treatable.
Getting yearly checkups is a minimum for staying on top of emerging health risks. Your doctor or health care provider will discuss the type of tests that you should undergo every year, based on your family and personal medical histories and your lifestyle. Listed below are some of the components that any annual exam should include:
What? |
Who? |
How Often? |
Human Papilloma |
Every woman |
Every year with Pap if recent history of STD, or if practicing unsafe sex; every 3 years if Pap and HPV are negative |
Pap smear |
Every woman |
Every 3 years (with negative HPV Screen) |
Pelvic and rectal exam |
Every woman |
Every year |
Pelvic and rectal exam |
Every woman |
Every year |
Breast exam |
Every woman |
Every year by a professional healthcare provider; every month by you |
Blood pressure |
Every woman |
Every year |
Cholesterol |
Every woman |
Every three years if initial test is normal; more often as prescribed |
Mammogram |
Every woman age forty+ |
Baseline at forty; every one to two years to age fifty; then every year |
Fecal occult blood test |
Every woman |
Annually after age fifty; after age forty if you have a family history |
Electrocardiogram (ECG) |
Anyone with two risk factors (family history, heart disease, smoking, diabetes, high blood pressure) high cholesterol |
|
Bone density |
Any woman with risk factors for osteoporosis, every woman age sixty-five and older |
Every year |
Sigmoidoscopy or colonoscopy Skin cancer check |
Every woman age 50+ Every woman |
Every five years if findings are normal Annually by professional, monthly by you |
Blood glucose check |
Every woman age 45+ |
Every three years |
These regular screening checks will help you stay on top of your changing body as it approaches and moves through menopause.
Taking a month-by-month approach to your health maintenance plan is a slow, sure way to walk toward a healthier, more comfortable rest of your life. If you don't reach your goal in a given month, put it on the next month's list and give it another shot. After six months, look back and see if you've made enough changes to get you closer to your healthy self. If not, talk to your health care provider about other ways to support your Health Maintenance Plan.
