Routine Tests, Part 2

Guidelines for Routine Tests

AGES                        20-29             30-39             40-49             50 and Older

Physical exam          3-5 yrs            3-5 yrs            2-3 yrs            2-3 yrs

Blood pressure         1-2 yrs            every year      every year      every year

Vision                        3-5 yrs            3-5 yrs            2-3 yrs            2-3 yrs

Hearing                     3-5 yrs            3-5 yrs            2-3 yrs            2-3 yrs

Rectal exam                                     3-5 yrs            1-2 yrs            every year

Stool blood test                                                       1-2 yrs            every year

Sigmoidoscopy                                                                              after 2 neg.tests

Electroardiogram (EKG)                                                    if physician recommends             

Blood sugar test         3-5 yrs            3-5 yrs            3-5 yrs            3-5 yrs

Glaucoma screening  3-5 yrs            2-3 yrs            2-3 yrs            2-3 yrs           

Cholesterol blood test                                              1-2 yrs            1-2 yrs

Women only:

Pap smear                  1-2 yrs            1-2 yrs            every year      every year

Mammography                                                         1-2 yrs            every year

Professional breast exam 1-2 yrs      1-2 yrs            every year      every year

Pelvic exam                1-2 yrs            1-2 yrs            every year      every year

Note: Recommendations for routine medical exams may vary.  They apply to healthy people who are expereincing no symptoms of illness. If you have an increased risk of a particular illness, testing should be done more frequently. Listen to the advice of your personal pysician.

Used with permission from A Year of Health Hints by Don R Powell, PHD and the American Institute for Preventive Medicine, copyright 2010. www.healthylife.com