General health care guidelines

health issue	frequency	risk factors	why get checked?
Routine Physical	Age 20: Every 3 yrs Age 30: Every 2 yrs Age 40: Every year	N/A	A general checkup will allow your physician to assess your overall health and detect a number of problems early.
Blood Pressure Testing	Every 1-2 years	Inactivity, a diet high in fat, obesity, having an ‘apple-shaped’ figure • Smoking • Family history of heart disease • Diabetes • Stress • High-dose birth control pills • Alcohol abuse	Heart disease is the number one killer of women. Although difficult to cure, lifestyle changes can make heart problems easier to manage. Optimal blood pressure scores are below 120/80.
Lipoprotein Profile to Check Cholesterol Levels	Every 5 years after age 18	Same as above	Cholesterol tends to rise by age 20 and sharply rises by age 40. This can lead to heart disease or stroke. Cholesterol levels should be below 130 LDL and over 40 HDL.
DEXA to Scan for Osteoporosis	Initially at the onset of menopausal symptoms and every 2 years unless diagnosed with Osteoporosis or Osteopenia.	Caucasian women, thin, family history of osteoporosis, anorexia/bulimia or low calcium intake	Knowing that you have low bone mineral density can alert you to the fact that you need to increase bone density through exercise and calcium intake. Early detection can slow further bone loss.
Breast Cancer Prevention	Self-exam: monthly Annual mammogram beginning at age 40.	Family history, obesity, postmenopausal or taking hormonal birth control	Perform a breast self-exam on a monthly basis to determine which lumps are normal and which are not. Women should receive a screening and mammogram from a physician every 1 to 3 years beginning at age 30.
Colonoscopy to Prevent Colon Cancer	Every 10 years after age 40	Age, family history of colon cancer, obesity, too much red meat or too little fiber in diet	Precancerous cells form in the colon 5 to 10 years before cancer forms. Early detection offers a 95% chance of complete removal.
Pelvic Exam and Pap Smear to Check for Cervical Cancer	Annually With abnormal pap smear results, every 4, 6 or 12 months, depending on diagnosis	A history of HPV or genital warts	Pap smears allow physicians to find abnormal cells before they turn into cancer.
Check for Blood Sugar Levels to Test for Diabetes	Variable, but high-risk individuals should have this checked on a regular basis	Family history of diabetes, surgical procedures, certain medications, stress, race, female, over age 40, obesity, smoking, family history or regularly wearing high heels	Women over age 40 are particularly susceptible to diabetes, where insulin levels make blood sugar in the body drastically rise to unhealthy levels. Treating it early can make it more controllable.
Skin Exam to Spot Skin Cancer	If at high risk, every 3-6 months Self-exam monthly If at low risk, every 5 years	History of melanoma, light skin and eyes, freckles, severe sunburn, moles or family history of skin cancer	If you are at high risk for developing skin cancer, get checked regularly. This can help detect cancer early, making it much easier to treat.