Taking care of your health is essential at every stage of life, but as you get older, your needs and risks change. Your annual physical is the perfect time to check in with your doctor, discuss any concerns, and get the tests that will help you stay on top of your health.
Regular check-ups are a cornerstone of good health at any age. By knowing what tests to expect or ask for during your annual physical, you can take an active role in your health care.
Here’s a decade-by-decade guide to the tests you should expect or ask for during your annual physical.
Building a Health Foundation in Your 20s
Your 20s are all about setting the stage for long-term health. While you might feel invincible, it’s crucial to start monitoring key health indicators early on.
- Basic Blood Work: Expect a complete blood count (CBC) to check for anemia or infection and a metabolic panel to assess kidney and liver function, blood sugar, and electrolyte levels.
- Blood Pressure Check: High blood pressure can develop early, so it’s important to monitor it regularly.
- Cholesterol Screening: Start checking your cholesterol levels to assess your risk for heart disease, especially if you have a family history.
- STD Screening: If you’re sexually active, regular screenings for sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are essential.
- PAP Smear (for women): Every three years, starting at age 21, to screen for cervical cancer.
- Skin Check: Ask your doctor to check any moles or skin changes, especially if you spend a lot of time in the sun.
Staying on Track in Your 30s
In your 30s, life can get busy, but it’s important not to let your health take a backseat. Continue with the basics and start paying more attention to your long-term wellness.
- Thyroid Function Test: Consider getting your thyroid levels checked, especially if you experience fatigue, weight changes, or mood swings.
- Blood Sugar Test: If you have risk factors like being overweight or a family history of diabetes, start screening for type 2 diabetes.
- Cholesterol Screening: Continue to monitor cholesterol levels, particularly LDL (“bad” cholesterol) and HDL (“good” cholesterol).
- HPV Test (for women): Combined with a Pap smear every five years.
- Fertility Screening (optional): If you’re planning to start a family, you may want to discuss fertility testing with your doctor.
- Mental Health Check: Life stresses can accumulate, so consider discussing your mental health and any signs of anxiety or depression with your doctor.
Preventative Care Takes Priority in Your 40s
Your 40s are a time when preventative care becomes more important. This is the decade to start screening for certain conditions that become more common as you age.
- Mammogram (for women): Begin mammograms to screen for breast cancer, typically starting at age 40.
- Colonoscopy: Begin colon cancer screening at age 45 or earlier if you have a family history.
- Lipid Panel: Continue cholesterol testing, as heart disease risk increases with age.
- Diabetes Screening: Regular blood sugar testing becomes more critical, especially if you haven’t already started.
- Eye Exam: Presbyopia (difficulty seeing close objects) and other eye conditions often begin in your 40s, so get your eyes checked.
- Bone Density Test: Consider a baseline bone density test to assess your risk for osteoporosis, especially for women at higher risk.
Keeping a Close Watch in Your 50s
Preventive health in your 50s focuses on the importance of ongoing exams to monitor your well-being. Continue regular colon cancer screenings with a colonoscopy every 10 years, and for women, maintain the routine of annual or biennial mammograms to ensure early detection and proactive care.
As you move through your 50s, health risks naturally increase, making it crucial to keep a close watch on a variety of health markers through these continual exams:
- Prostate Cancer Screening (for men): Discuss the pros and cons of PSA testing with your doctor.
- Bone Density Test: Start regular bone density screenings, especially for women post-menopause.
- Cardiovascular Screening: Consider an EKG or other heart health tests if you have risk factors for heart disease.
- Hearing Test: Age-related hearing loss can begin in your 50s, so consider getting your hearing checked.
- Shingles Vaccine: Recommended for adults over 50 to prevent shingles.
Care in Your 60s and Beyond
As you enter your 60s and beyond, comprehensive care becomes the focus, with regular screenings and tests playing a key role in maintaining your health and catching any issues early.
Continue with colonoscopies as recommended, or discuss alternative screening methods if a colonoscopy becomes more challenging. For women, it’s important to maintain regular mammograms, adjusting the frequency as needed based on your health status. Additionally, continue regular bone density screenings to monitor for osteoporosis.
- Lung Cancer Screening: If you’re a current or former smoker, discuss low-dose CT screening with your doctor.
- Aneurysm Screening (for men): Consider an abdominal aortic aneurysm screening if you have ever smoked.
- Vaccinations: Stay up-to-date with vaccines, including flu, pneumonia, and tetanus boosters.
- Cognitive Assessment: Discuss any memory changes or cognitive concerns with your doctor, and consider screening for conditions like dementia.
- Fall Risk Assessment: As the risk of falls increases, your doctor may assess your balance and suggest preventative measures.
As you get older, the number of medications you take may increase, whether for chronic conditions or short-term health issues. Managing these medications carefully is essential to avoid adverse interactions and ensure that each one is effective.
During your annual physical, it’s a good idea to review your medications with your doctor to confirm that everything is working as it should and to discuss any potential side effects or necessary adjustments.
Personalized Health Screenings
As you move through each decade, it’s essential to remember that health care isn’t one-size-fits-all. Your personal and family medical history plays a significant role in determining which tests and screenings are most important for you.
For example, if you have a family history of heart disease, your doctor might recommend starting cardiovascular screenings earlier than usual. Similarly, a history of certain cancers might lead to more frequent screenings or additional tests.
The Importance of Lifestyle Factors
While regular screenings are crucial, they work best when paired with a healthy lifestyle. Regardless of age, maintaining a balanced diet, regular exercise, and good sleep hygiene can significantly impact your overall health.
These lifestyle choices can help you manage or reduce the risk factors that screenings aim to detect, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes.
