![]() ![]() Timing: Determined by your initial results 6. Who should get it: Women who are 65 and up, or younger postmenopausal women at increased risk because of a family history of fractures, low weight, or smoking, among other factors, says the USPSTF.Įvidence in men is scant, but it makes sense for men with risk factors - including older age and a low BMI - to discuss the pros and cons of screening with their physician. The test: DEXA scan, a non-invasive test that measures bone density and signs of osteoporosis, which can lead to broken bones. Timing: The USPSTF recommends every other year the ACS says you should go annually until age 55, when you can shift to every other year. There is less evidence to gauge the risks and benefits of screening women 75 and up, but generally, if an older woman is in good health, screening is still a good idea, says Ransone. The American Cancer Society advises starting five years earlier. According to the USPSTF, women should start getting mammograms at 50. Who should get it: The recommended age to start mammograms has shifted over time and depends on who you ask. ![]() These intervals are dependent on your test results: If you have polyps removed, you’ll likely need to have a colonoscopy sooner than another 10 years. The fecal tests - which you get through your physician - are usually annual (a newer, less-studied DNA-based test can be taken every three years). The CT scan and sigmoidoscopy are every five years. Timing: Colonoscopies are generally scheduled every 10 years. and a member of the board of directors of the American Academy of Family Physicians. The American Cancer Society recommends starting at age 45, making individual decisions starting at 76, and cutting out screening by 85.īecause the risks of colonoscopy increase with age, people at the upper end of the recommended age range may be better off with a non-invasive test, says Sterling Ransone, M.D., a family medicine physician in Deltaville, Ga. Who should get it: All adults aged 50 to 75, according to the USPSTF after that, it’s up to you and your doctor. You can also get a virtual, noninvasive CT scan, but as with the fecal tests, any positive result must be followed up with a colonoscopy.Ī flexible sigmoidoscopy, which like the colonoscopy is another “scope” test but looks only at the lower part of the colon, is also on the USPSTF’s list of options, but it’s on the decline. The USPSTF says that other options, including at-home fecal tests, are also effective. The test: This is often a colonoscopy, but it doesn’t have to be. Timing: Both groups say three years is a reasonable interval after you have a normal test result. The American Diabetes Association recommends routine testing for everyone starting at age 45, or younger depending on risk factors. ![]() Who should get it: The USPSTF advises testing for adults between 40 and 70 who are overweight or obese, though certain risk factors - including a family history of diabetes - can prompt screening earlier or at a lower BMI. The test: Either the A1C test, which does not require fasting and measures your average blood glucose level over the past three months, or fasting blood glucose, which does require fasting and is a snapshot in time. Younger adults can be screened less frequently - every few years is fine. Everyone over 40, or those who have risk factors such as obesity or being African-American, should be screened annually. This condition is symptomless, so screening for it is key for gauging your risk of heart disease. The test: A blood pressure reading in the doctor’s office, followed up by portable device readings over a 12- to 24-hour time frame (because the stress and anxiety of a doctor’s visit can cause your blood pressure to spike). The good news: Under the Affordable Care Act, any preventive services recommended by the USPSTF with a grade of “A” or “B” are covered by both Medicare and private insurers with no cost sharing. Family history, your own medical history, or other factors might prompt your doctor to recommend a different test or timing. Plus, screening guidelines are generally written for people at average risk of a certain disease. With any test, of course, you should ask your doctor about the risks as well as the benefits, says Hall. But, for example, the USPSTF rates the PSA test for prostate cancer a “C,” meaning it should be given only after consulting with a doctor since the harms may outweigh the benefits for some. ![]()
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