Feeling good? Great! Keep it up by getting the routine screenings and exams that your doctors recommend every year. Why get a checkup if you’re not feeling sick? Routine tests, screenings and exams give you and your doctor a baseline for your health and can help identify any looming medical issues. Make an appointment with your health care provider today at www.hoag.org.
Here are four important routine tests, screenings and exams to discuss with your health care provider:
Blood pressure screening: High blood pressure is known as a “silent killer” because it sneaks up with no symptoms but increases your risk for stroke and a heart attack. Measuring your blood pressure is easy and takes less than a minute in the doctor’s office.
Cholesterol test: Depending on your age, overall health and family history, your doctor may recommend this blood test to find out if there’s a buildup of fatty deposits that can narrow or block arteries throughout your body and put you at risk for heart disease.
Diabetes: With obesity inching ever upward, the risk of diabetes rises, too. Every adult should have an initial screening for diabetes. Adults found to have normal blood sugar levels are advised to follow up every three years after that.
Screening for sexual health: National guidelines recommend yearly screening for sexually transmitted diseases chlamydia and gonorrhea, for those in high-risk groups, including women under 25. If you are at high risk for HIV (human immunodeficiency virus), your doctor might recommend testing for it, too.
Make an appointment with your primary care doctor at www.hoag.org.
