In fact, according to a recent survey from the Cleveland Clinic in collaboration with Parade.com and Ipsos, 37% of people delayed regular medical care (annual appointments, health screenings, etc.) within the past year due to safety concerns. Now that COVID cases are dropping and more people are getting vaccinated, we’re all feeling that a weight has been lifted. And one of the first things on our minds is scheduling our routine checkups and appointments. Here are the appointments you should be scheduling, based on your age.
If you’re in your 20s…
Dr. Chris Airey, MD, Medical Director at Optimale and practicing physician with the NHS recommends seeing a family doctor, dentist, dermatologist and gynecologist regularly. Here are the details of each:
Family doctor
Do a health checkup with your family doctor every year to screen for early signs of any major health issues.
Dentist
Visit your dentist every six months for regular teeth cleaning and monitoring of any potential dental issues.
Dermatologist
If you have concerns about spots on your skin and acne or if you have a higher risk for skin issues, it may be worth doing a checkup with your dermatologist at least once a year.
Gynecologist
A visit to the gynecologist at least once every three years to do a pap smear, pelvic exam, STD test and a breast exam is important especially for women. Dr. Sherry Ross, MD, OB/GYN, and Women’s Health Expert at Providence Saint John’s Health Center in Santa Monica, CA, weighs in on the importance of gynecological appointments: “21 is the beginning of a whole new chapter for many women. It’s also at about this age that women ought to begin routine annual pelvic examinations and learning how to do self-breast exams,” she says. “The importance of birth control and safe sex is a major topic for most 20-somethings, so annual well-woman visits with your ob-gyn or healthcare provider are important not only for your general physical health but your mental wellbeing.” Sexually active women should be screened yearly or between new partners for sexually transmitted infections (STI’s), including chlamydia and gonorrhea, Dr. Ross explains. Of course, if you’ve left your teens without an HPV vaccine, it’s now essential to remedy that. HIV testing needs to be done yearly as long as you remain sexually active with different partners (or your partner remains sexually active outside of your relationship). Cervical cancer screening begins at 21 and is repeated every three years thereafter. For women at low risk, Pap smears can be done every three years and HPV testing done every five if both tests are negative.
If you’re in your 30s…
All of the appointments for 20s apply, but you may also need to start going for cholesterol screening once every five years if you have a high risk of high blood pressure or diabetes, Dr. Airey explains. Dr. Nicole Weinberg, MD, a cardiologist at Providence Saint John’s Health Center in Santa Monica, CA, says it’s never too early to get your cholesterol and blood work done (you can start in your 20s). “From a cardiology perspective, I believe everyone should see a doctor and have their cholesterol blood work performed as well as an electrocardiogram, Dr. Weinberg states. “A full physical exam is a must once a year to make sure that there are new murmurs, heart sounds, and so on.” If patients are at risk for cardiovascular disease, there is a new cholesterol blood work called lipoprotein particle number testing. It may elucidate some interesting information as it relates to her risk factors for heart disease and is generally covered by insurance, Dr. Weinberg adds.
If you’re in your 40s…
You may want to start visiting your gynecologist every year instead of once every three years. Women may also start regular annual mammogram screenings as women in theirs 40s and 50s may begin to be at high risk for breast cancer, Dr. Airey says. Men can start regular screening for prostate cancer including a PSA blood test and an annual rectal exam. For men in their 40s through their70s, an annual physical and prostate exam is important, S. Adam Ramin, MD, urologic surgeon and medical director of Urology Cancer Specialists in Los Angeles, explains. “It’s a good thing that being a urologist is my life’s calling because if I had a nickel for every man who came to me without having had a physical in YEARS, I wouldn’t need to work,” Dr. Ramin states. “Especially during the pandemic, men feel they have an even greater excuse not to schedule their annual physical. However, during these challenging times, it is even more important to schedule that physical because many men may not be exercising nearly enough and have developed unhealthy eating habits while working from home.” Early detection is critical and can come down to life and death. Some cancers are slow-growing, and others are aggressive. But you won’t know what you’re working with unless you visit a physician who can review your health history to know if and when there’s reason to take a closer look, Dr. Ramin adds
If you’re in your 50s or older…
In your 50s, get ready to pile on another medical to-do: Going for a colonoscopy every five years, says Dr. Airey. Women can also start going for an annual bone density scan once they reach menopause, or even earlier if they are at a risk for low bone density due to past fractures or a family history of osteoporosis.
No matter how old you are…
Taking your blood pressure is important at every age, and Dr. Jennifer Wong, MD, cardiologist and medical director of Non-Invasive Cardiology at MemorialCare Heart and Vascular Institute at Orange Coast Medical Center in Fountain Valley, CA, explains why: “Hypertension has been described as a ‘silent killer,’ as often there are no symptoms while causing significant damage to the heart, kidneys, brain, eyes and blood vessels which is why it is important to check it regularly and at every stage of life,” she says. “Cardiovascular complications of heart disease include heart failure, ischemic heart disease, stroke and intracerebral hemorrhage. The risk of death from heart disease or stroke doubles for every 20 mmHg increase in systolic blood pressure or 10 mmHg increase in diastolic blood pressure.” Normal blood pressure is systolic <120 mmHg and diastolic <80 mmHg. Elevated blood pressure is systolic 120 to 129 mmHg and diastolic <80 mmHg. Stage 1 hypertension is systolic 130 to 139 mmHg or diastolic 80 to 89 mmHg. Stage 2 hypertension is systolic at least 140 mmHg or diastolic at least 90 mmHg.
Additional tips
It’s important to check in with your doctor every single year to ensure an accurate record of your health is kept, as well as to establish a relationship with your family physician, Dr. LaTasha Perkins, MD, a practicing family physician in Washington DC, explains, “As we have seen with the pandemic, vaccines are extremely important,” says Dr. Perkins. “There are certain adult vaccines that should be on your preventive health schedule, like flu, pneumonia, and boosters for tetanus and pertussis. Additionally, if you did not get the HPV vaccine as an adolescent, you can get it as an adult. Most insurances will cover this vaccine up to age 40.” Next, read about the top diseases that can be prevented by vaccines (and vaccines that get the job done).
Sources
Dr Chris Airey, MD, Medical Director at Optimale and practicing physician with the NHSSherry Ross, MD, OB/GYN and Women’s Health Expert at Providence Saint John’s Health Center in Santa Monica, CANicole Weinberg, MD, cardiologist at Providence Saint John’s Health Center in Santa Monica, CA Adam Ramin, MD, urologic surgeon and medical director of Urology Cancer Specialists in Los AngelesJennifer Wong, MD, cardiologist and medical director of Non-Invasive Cardiology at MemorialCare Heart and Vascular Institute at Orange Coast Medical Center in Fountain Valley, CADr. LaTasha Perkins, MD, practicing family physician in Washington DC
