Medical Screening Guidelines for Ages 40-65
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Recommended Screenings from the National Institutes of Health and Riverside's Cancer Care Network
Blood Pressure
Blood Pressure
- Screening for high blood pressure in adults aged 40-65 should occur at least once a year, if blood pressure is in the normal range of 120/80 or below.
- If you have conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, kidney problems or are overweight, you may need to have your blood pressure checked more frequently.
- Patients with stage 1 or stage 2 hypertension should be monitored more frequently and work with a primary care provider to take steps to reduce blood pressure.
- Stage 1 Hypertension: When the top number of the blood pressure reading is above 130 but below 140 or the bottom number is above 80 but lower than 90.
- Stage 2 Hypertension: When the top number of the blood pressure reading is above 140 or the bottom number is above 90.
Cholesterol
Cholesterol
- Men and women with no known risk factors should start cholesterol checks at age 20 and continue every 4 to 6 years.
- It’s recommended that cholesterol should be retested for both men and women more frequently if there are other health issues or factors such as changes in lifestyle (weight gain), diabetes, heart disease, kidney problems, etc. Talk with your health care provider to determine what is best for you.
Immunizations
Immunizations
- Annual flu vaccinations are recommended for all adults every year.
- If you have not had one previously, you should have a one-time tetanus-diphtheria and acellular pertussis vaccine after age 19, as one of your tetanus-diphtheria vaccines. This is also called the Tdap vaccine. You should then have a Tdap booster every 10 years.
- Your health care provider may recommend other immunizations if you are at high risk for conditions or if you have not received a vaccine for some conditions such as:
- Chicken pox if you have never had the disease
- Shingles (herpes zoster) vaccine; two doses, 2-6 months apart after age 50.
- Measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) – 1 to 2 doses if you are not immune
- Hepatitis B – 2, 3 or 4 doses depending on individual needs
- Pneumonia: It is recommended that men and women over the age of 50 who have never had a pneumococcal vaccine receive one. Check with your provider to determine which vaccination variation is best for your individual health needs
Physical Exam
Physical Exam
- Annual exams monitor any changes in blood pressure, height, weight and body mass index (BMI).
- Diabetes screening may also be done during this annual physical or may start as early as 35 if the patient is obese.
Screenings for Women
Screenings for Women
- Women of average risk should begin having annual mammograms at age 40, and earlier if at a higher risk. Clinical breast exams should also be performed by your health care provider every year.
- It is recommended that women aged 30-64 have a Pap smear with HPV co-testing performed every five years, or a Pap smear without HPV co-testing performed every three years.
- Women aged 65 and older should talk with a health care provider to discuss the recommended screening interval based on personal health history and risk factors.
Screenings for Men
Screenings for Men
- For men with an average risk, prostate screening should begin at age 50.
- For men with high risk, including for African-American men, prostate screening should begin at age 45.
- For men with an even higher risk, such as those with a family history of a prostate diagnosis before aged 65, screenings should begin at age 40. Talk to your health care provider to determine your risk level.
Other Screenings
Other Screenings
- Colon screenings should begin for both men and women at age 45. The screening method selected will determine how frequently testing should be completed after the first screening. After the initial screening test, a colonoscopy should be conducted every 10 years, or sooner if recommended by your doctor. At-home kit tests should be rescreened every 3 years.
- Screening for prediabetes and diabetes typically should begin around age 35 for those without preexisting conditions. Routine screenings are then usually conducted every 3 years after that, or more frequently if risk factors increase.
- Lung cancer screening is recommended for men and women aged 50 and older who have also smoked an average of a pack of cigarettes a day for 20 years.
- It’s recommended that all adults aged 18-79 receive a one-time Hepatitis C screening test, and adults aged 15-65 receive a one-time HIV test. Additional tests may be needed depending on individual lifestyle circumstances.
- It is recommended that adults should complete routine self-checks to look for any moles or growths on the skin that appear irregular and should be shown to a health care provider.
Blood Pressure
- Screening for high blood pressure in adults aged 40-65 should occur at least once a year, if blood pressure is in the normal range of 120/80 or below.
- If you have conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, kidney problems or are overweight, you may need to have your blood pressure checked more frequently.
- Patients with stage 1 or stage 2 hypertension should be monitored more frequently and work with a primary care provider to take steps to reduce blood pressure.
- Stage 1 Hypertension: When the top number of the blood pressure reading is above 130 but below 140 or the bottom number is above 80 but lower than 90.
- Stage 2 Hypertension: When the top number of the blood pressure reading is above 140 or the bottom number is above 90.
Cholesterol
- Men and women with no known risk factors should start cholesterol checks at age 20 and continue every 4 to 6 years.
- It’s recommended that cholesterol should be retested for both men and women more frequently if there are other health issues or factors such as changes in lifestyle (weight gain), diabetes, heart disease, kidney problems, etc. Talk with your health care provider to determine what is best for you.
Immunizations
- Annual flu vaccinations are recommended for all adults every year.
- If you have not had one previously, you should have a one-time tetanus-diphtheria and acellular pertussis vaccine after age 19, as one of your tetanus-diphtheria vaccines. This is also called the Tdap vaccine. You should then have a Tdap booster every 10 years.
- Your health care provider may recommend other immunizations if you are at high risk for conditions or if you have not received a vaccine for some conditions such as:
- Chicken pox if you have never had the disease
- Shingles (herpes zoster) vaccine; two doses, 2-6 months apart after age 50.
- Measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) – 1 to 2 doses if you are not immune
- Hepatitis B – 2, 3 or 4 doses depending on individual needs
- Pneumonia: It is recommended that men and women over the age of 50 who have never had a pneumococcal vaccine receive one. Check with your provider to determine which vaccination variation is best for your individual health needs
Physical Exam
- Annual exams monitor any changes in blood pressure, height, weight and body mass index (BMI).
- Diabetes screening may also be done during this annual physical or may start as early as 35 if the patient is obese.
Screenings for Women
- Women of average risk should begin having annual mammograms at age 40, and earlier if at a higher risk. Clinical breast exams should also be performed by your health care provider every year.
- It is recommended that women aged 30-64 have a Pap smear with HPV co-testing performed every five years, or a Pap smear without HPV co-testing performed every three years.
- Women aged 65 and older should talk with a health care provider to discuss the recommended screening interval based on personal health history and risk factors.
Screenings for Men
- For men with an average risk, prostate screening should begin at age 50.
- For men with high risk, including for African-American men, prostate screening should begin at age 45.
- For men with an even higher risk, such as those with a family history of a prostate diagnosis before aged 65, screenings should begin at age 40. Talk to your health care provider to determine your risk level.
Other Screenings
- Colon screenings should begin for both men and women at age 45. The screening method selected will determine how frequently testing should be completed after the first screening. After the initial screening test, a colonoscopy should be conducted every 10 years, or sooner if recommended by your doctor. At-home kit tests should be rescreened every 3 years.
- Screening for prediabetes and diabetes typically should begin around age 35 for those without preexisting conditions. Routine screenings are then usually conducted every 3 years after that, or more frequently if risk factors increase.
- Lung cancer screening is recommended for men and women aged 50 and older who have also smoked an average of a pack of cigarettes a day for 20 years.
- It’s recommended that all adults aged 18-79 receive a one-time Hepatitis C screening test, and adults aged 15-65 receive a one-time HIV test. Additional tests may be needed depending on individual lifestyle circumstances.
- It is recommended that adults should complete routine self-checks to look for any moles or growths on the skin that appear irregular and should be shown to a health care provider.