Getting the right screenings at the right times are some of the most important things you can do for your health. Eating right, staying active and maintaining a relationship with a primary care physician can help you get healthy and stay healthy. If you’re not up-to-date on your health screenings, then it's time for a check up with a Utica Park Clinic doctor.
Click here for an easy-to-follow chart of recommended preventive screenings based on your age and gender or see the list below.
FOR CHILDREN:
General wellness exam: Visits at 1, 2, 4, 6, 9, 12, 15 and 18 months of age. Annual visits for ages 2-5 years, then every other year until age 18.
Vision: Kids should be screened three times in the first year, then every two years from ages 3 to 18.
Click here for Pediatric Vaccination Information.
FOR ADULTS:
General Wellness Exams: Every one to three years for age 19-49 depending on your personal risk factors. Annually after age 49. Includes weight, height, examination and review of preventative screening tests.
Colon cancer screening: Colonoscopy by age 50 then every 10 years, or annual fecal occult blood test (FOBT) or sigmoidoscopy every five years.
Blood pressure: Every one to two years for age 40 and older. Annually if you are at an increased risk.
Cholesterol screening: At least every five years for age 20 and older.
Diabetes screening: Begin at age 45, then every three years. More frequently if you are at high risk.
Skin cancer screening: Have your skin checked by a dermatologist or other health care professional during your regular physicals.
Vision: Every two to four years from ages 20-64 and every one to two years for ages 65+.
Hepatitis C screening: Once for adults born between 1945 and 1965.
HIV Screening: Adults between 18 and 65, based on risk. All pregnant women should be screened.
Lung cancer screening criteria:
- Current or former smoker, and
- In the age group of 55 to 80 years, and
- A smoking history of at least 30 pack-years (i.e., one pack per day for 30 years, two packs per day for 15 years, etc.)
- Go to LungExam.com for more information.
For men:
- Prostate cancer screening: Begin at age 45 for African Americans and other men with higher risk and at age 50 for men with lower risk following an informed decision-making discussion with your PCP.
- Testicular exam: Annually, include as part of each general wellness exam.
- Abdominal aneurysm screening: Have an ultrasound once between ages 65 and 75 if you have ever smoked.
For Women:
- Cervical cancer screening: Get your first Pap smear by age 21, then every three years after that. If you're 30 or older, you can get co-tested with a human papillomavirus infection (HPV) screening at least every five years. If you're sexually active and at risk, get vaginal testing for chlamydia and gonorrhea every year.
- Breast cancer screening: In your 20s to 30s, your health care provider should perform a breast exam every one to three years. Get a mammography every two years from ages 50 to 74. A mammography before age 50 should be done under individual context after discussing risks, benefits and harms with your health care provider.
- Osteoporosis screening: Beginning at age 65, or at age 60 if risk factors are present.
Adult Vaccinations:
- Tetanus, Diptheria (Td): Tdap – one dose. TD booster every 10 years.
- Influenza: one dose annually at the beginning of flu season (typically September).
- Pneumococcal: PCV13 – one dose after age 65. PPSV23 – one to two doses based on medical history.
- Measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR): one to two doses if unvaccinated, born after 1957 and no evidence of immunity.
- Meningococcal (Meningitis): one or more doses if not previously immunized, depending on risk factors and other indicators.
- Varicella (Chicken pox): Two doses four to eight weeks apart without evidence of immunity.
- Shingles: one dose after age 59
- Human papillomavirus (HPV): women ages 18-26 if not previously immunized. For men ages 18-21. Two to three doses.
- Hepatitis A: two doses if not previously immunized if requested or at risk.
- Hepatitis B: three doses if not previously immunized.
- Haemophilus influenza, type B: one or three doses if not previously immunized if you have asplenia, sickle cell anemia, stem cell transplant and other risk factors.