Cholesterol tests, dental check-ups, cancer screenings -- what's necessary and what's not? Click on this video to hear Dr. Oz's essential list.
Health Screening & Wellness
They always say the best defense is a good offense and that goes double for your health. When it comes to staying healthy, prevention is key. And that means talking to your health care provider about health tests. Being informed and aware of your body, even when it's healthy, is one of the easiest ways to actively participate in managing your health. Just be careful not to go overboard. Fear-based decisions only exacerbate undiagnosed health issues.
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See All 5 AnswersA comprehensive physical examination is a once-a-year opportunity—paid in full by most insurance providers—to meet your doctor to:- Help organize your medical care plan
- Discuss your medications, laboratory results and preventive measures that you need to stay healthy and well.
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Dr. Michael Roizen, MD , Internal Medicine, answeredSee All 6 AnswersPrevention and early diagnosis of problems are the keys to a longer, healthier life. Getting a regular check up lets you know when you need to reduce your lousy LDL cholesterol to cut your risk of cardiovascular problems. It can also encourage you to lose weight, so you reduce your chance of developing type 2 diabetes and lower your blood pressure. And that’s not all: Annual testing reveals when a rise in PSA levels signals the need for a biopsy, so a man can have early treatment for prostate cancer. (Experts know recommendations now say PSA testing gives false positives, possibly triggering unnecessary procedures, but we say that just means you need to make careful decisions about how to proceed when you see a rise in your PSA level.) A skin check every year can ID skin cancer -- and early treatment of melanoma is essential for a good outcome. Even though PAP smears to check for cervical cancer are no longer done yearly (except for women at high risk), an annual gynecologic exam that checks the breasts and pelvis and looks for STDs is important. And there’s the benefit of having a long-term track record with your primary care physician -- continuity builds better, more individualized care -- and healthier outcomes.
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RealAge answeredWomen in their thirties are getting skin cancer with increasing frequency. Put a note on your calendar to schedule an annual checkup with a dermatologist. To remind yourself, see if you can schedule it the same month as your annual pap smear with your ob-gyn. Make the month your check-up month.
From The Mind-Beauty Connection: 9 Days to Less Stress, Gorgeous Skin, and a Whole New You by Amy Wechsler.
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Joane Goodroe , Nursing, answeredSee All 2 AnswersThe Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare, requires health insurance to provide some preventive screening tests as part of an annual physical. The following are some of the tests covered under the law.- One-time abdominal aortic aneurysm screening for men of specified ages who have smoked
- Cholesterol screening for adults of certain ages or at higher risk
- Colorectal cancer screening for adults over 50
- Type 2 diabetes screening for adults with high blood pressure
- HIV screening for all adults at higher risk
- Immunization vaccines for adults
- Breast cancer mammography screenings every 1 to 2 years for women over 40
- Osteoporosis screening for women over age 60 depending on risk factors
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See All 2 AnswersWellness exams are always important, as they offer an opportunity to review a patient’s medical record and address any needs he or she may have at that time. Different screening tests are applicable at various times throughout someone’s life, so it is important to have this review annually. As a provider, I love having quality time with a patient when no acute issue requires the focus of the appointment. It offers me time to get to know my patient better, while making sure his or her medical record is complete and up to date. -
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Dr. Mehmet Oz, MD , Cardiology (Cardiovascular Disease), answeredEveryone should get an annual checkup, see their dentist every six months, and get an eye exam every two years. The rest of your health test schedule depends on your age and gender.
There is one test all women -- particularly if you are over 60 -- should get. For women, you want to know your bone density, especially if you have a family history of osteoporosis, if you smoke cigarettes, or drink alcohol.
For men, the test is a digital rectal exam. I'm not talking about "computer" digital. I'm talking about digits of the fingers. -
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Dr. Michael Roizen, MD , Internal Medicine, answeredSee All 2 AnswersIt is difficult to quantify exactly how much patrolling your own health affects your RealAge (physiologic age). But there is no doubt that it markedly affects it for the better. For example, if you spot an early cancer and have it removed before it has a chance to metastasize (spread), you may save yourself ten, twenty, even thirty years of aging.
For this reason, you should never skip routine testing. Data from the Cardiovascular Health Study examined three tests in 2,932 individuals over age 65; the investigators found that those without symptoms but with abnormalities on these three tests were the equivalent of 5 years older than if they had no abnormalities on these tests. Skipping routine maintenance on your body puts everything at stake -- your memory, IQ, health, and enjoyment of life. -
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Intermountain Healthcare answeredA basic physical exam usually follows the medical history and provides more clues to your condition. During a physical exam, your healthcare providers will check vital signs, such as heart rate and blood pressure. They'll also check for lung congestion, swelling in your arms or legs, or any areas of tenderness on your body. -
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An oral temperature is the body temperature as recorded by a clinical thermometer placed in the mouth. Normal adult body temperature, as measured orally, is 98.6° F (37° C). Oral temperatures ranging from 96.5° F to 99° F and may vary depending on the person's physical activity, the environmental temperature, and that person's usual body temperature.