Proper Health Screening Chart

Do you ever wonder when you should be booking your next physical for yourself or your family member?  Ever wonder how often you need to do certain screening methods, at what age? Prevention is key. Here is a chart I made that you may print out, and keep yourself up-to-date.  Hope it is of benefit!

Birth-10years old

height and weight blood pressure vision and hearing screening hemoglobinopathy screen (at birth) phenylalanine level (at birth) TSH and/or T4

11-24 years old

height and weight blood pressure general exam pap smear

25-64 years old (*see below chart for further explanation)

height and weight blood pressure every 2 years cholesterol every 5 years Pap test and bimanual pelvic exam FOBT (fecal occult blood test) sigmoidoscopy or colonoscopy mammography

>65 years old (*see chart below)

height and weight blood pressure FOBT osteoporosis scans for women (DEXA) vision and hearing screening Pap test sigmoidoscopy or colonoscopy

Further information regarding appropriate screening periods

In general, the doctor may ask you about your family history. By doing so, we see if you at an “at-risk” patient, and appropriate screening measures should be undertaken. If you have a family member with, for example, a history of breast cancer diagnosed in your mother at age 38, the doctor will begin to screen 10 years earlier than the relative was diagnosed, irregardless of what inheritable/genetically susceptible medical condition is being spoken of.

FOBT                              (fecal occult blood testing)	Once every year in patients >50 years old (or >40 for high risk patients)
COLONOSCOPY	Once every 10 years in patients >50 years old (or >40 for high risk patients)
FLEXIBLE SIGMOIDOSCOPY	Once every 5 years in pts >50 (or >40 in high risk)
DRE      (Digital rectal exam)	Once a year to male patients >50 (or >40 in high risk)
BIMANUAL PELVIC EXAM	For women between 20-40 years of age: once every 1-3 years. For women >40: every year.
PAP TEST	Once yearly, up until age 30. If three cytology results return negative for three consecutive years, then the interval can be increased to once every 2-3 years in patients >30.
MAMMOGRAPHY	Once every 1-2 years in patients over 40.
CLINICAL BREAST EXAM	Offered to females in their 20s and 30s every 3 years, and in patients >40, every year (NOTE: monthly self check exams are advised to be performed on all females)
ENDOMETRIAL TISSUE SAMPLING	Only recommended as a screening test if there is postmenopausal bleeding.
PSA                            (Prostate specific Antigen)	Offer every year to males >50, or if they are at risk, >40. (Note: this is a non-specific test for prostate cancer, DRE much more sensitive and specific).

Image via Wikipedia

Image via Wikipedia