Health Screening Tests That Everyone Needs

For the following diseases, the United States Preventive Services
Task Force states that there are effective screening tests and that
people should get them.

Cervical cancer: The task force strongly recommends
screening for cervical cancer in women who have been sexually active
and have a cervix until the age of 65. However, the panel also points
out that there is no direct evidence that annual screening achieves
better health outcomes than screening every three years. Most medical
organizations in the United States recommend that annual Pap smears be
performed until two or three in a row are normal; after that, the
interval between screenings may be lengthened.

Colorectal cancer: Men and women 50 years of age or
older should get screened for colorectal cancer. According to the
American College of Gastroenterology, people should get either a
colonoscopy every 10 years or a sigmoidoscopy and a test to detect
blood in the stool every five years.

High blood pressure: Adults ages 18 and older
should be screened for high blood pressure, but there is no agreed-upon
interval between tests. One influential report recommends screening
every two years for people who have blood pressure lower than 130/85
and at more frequent intervals for people with higher baseline readings.

Lipid disorders: The task force strongly recommends
cholesterol testing in men ages 35 years and older and women ages 45
years and older who have heart-disease risk factors such as diabetes,
hypertension, or a family history of cardiovascular disease. The task
force makes no recommendation for healthy younger adults in the absence
of known risk factors for coronary heart disease.

Breast cancer: Women ages 40 or older should get a mammogram every one to two years.

Osteoporosis: Women ages 65 and older should be
screened routinely for osteoporosis. (Screening should begin at age 60
for women identified as being at increased risk for fractures.) The
optimal interval for repeat screening is not clear, according to the
task force.

Tobacco: All adults should be asked by their
doctors whether they use tobacco, and smokers should receive an
intervention designed to end their tobacco habit.

Alcohol: All adults should receive screening and
behavioral counseling interventions to reduce alcohol misuse by adults,
including pregnant women, in primary care settings.

Obesity: The task force recommends that clinicians
screen all adult patients for obesity and offer intensive counseling
and behavioral interventions to promote sustained weight loss for obese
adults.