Medical Tests For Men And Women At Every Age: What To Test And When

Medical screening tests are an important way to catch health problems early. Early detection often means a better prognosis. The tests recommended below are general guidelines. Keep in mind, it is best to follow the recommendations of your physician.

Tests Men and Women Should Undergo in Their 20s and 30s

Young adults may not realize several types of health screening tests are recommended for adults in their twenties and thirties. Your young adult years are often filled with completing your education, building a career and starting a family. Life gets busy, and health tests may take a back seat to everyday responsibilities.

Oral Cancer Screening: Oral cancer is on the rise. In addition to smoking, being infected with the HPV virus appears to be a risk factor.

 It involves a visual inspection of your mouth, gums and tongue. It is recommended for all adults over the age of 18 annually.

Cholesterol Screening:  Cholesterol is fatty proteins, which can build up in your bloodstream and stick to the walls of your arteries. Cholesterol can be confusing since there is both good and bad cholesterol. Good cholesterol, known as HDL, protects you from heart disease. Bad cholesterol, which is LDL, is what can lead to heart disease. The American Heart Association recommends starting at age 20 adults have their cholesterol checked through a blood test. If levels are within normal limits, the test should be repeated every few years.

Blood Pressure Test: High blood pressure can affect people of every age. It is one of the main causes of strokes and can also lead to eye problems and kidney disease. Blood pressure measurements are often part of a regular doctor’s visit and are quick and noninvasive. Doctors recommend adults have their blood pressure checked every year.

Health Screenings for Men and Women in Their 40s, 50s and Beyond

Diabetes Screening: Type 2 diabetes can lead to kidney failure, heart disease, vision problems and other health complications. Early detection, when a person is considered a pre-diabetic, is helpful to try to reverse the condition with lifestyle changes. The American Diabetes Association recommends adults over the age of 45 are screened for diabetes every two years. The test involves a simple blood draw.

See Also: Test Yourself For Colon Cancer - At Home

Colonoscopy: Colon cancer is the fourth most commonly diagnosed cancer in the U.S., according to John Hopkins Medical Center. A colonoscopy is a procedure, which allows a physician to view your colon. If polyps, which can be precancerous, are found they are removed before they develop into cancer.

Thyroid Test: Thyroid diseases including both low and hyperactive thyroid problems becomes more common as people age. A thyroid stimulating hormone test is recommended for adults every five years starting at age 50. The test involves a blood draw to check thyroid hormone levels.   

Health Screen Tests Can Be Lifesaving 

In addition to health screening tests men and women should both undergo, there are additional gender specific tests to detect certain medical conditions. Depending on your risk factors for certain conditions, your doctor may recommend more frequent screening.

Additional Screening Tests for Men

Testicular Cancer Screening: Testicular cancer is considered an uncommon type of cancer, but when it does occur it usually affects young men under the age of 40. Doctors recommend men under the age of 40 have a testicular exam at their yearly physical. Testicular cancer screening checks for hard lumps and growths on the testes.   

Prostate Screening:Prostate cancer is one of the most common cancers found in men. The disease is often slow growing, which means if it is found early, the prognosis is often good. 

Screening involves a digital rectal exam and in some instances, a blood test to measure the level of prostate antigen.

Skin Cancer Screening: Although women should also get screened for skin cancer, men are at a higher risk of getting certain types of skin cancer. Men are almost three times as likely to develop basal cell skin cancer as women. In addition, older men develop melanoma more frequently than women in the same age group. Men over the age of 18, especially those who burn easily or spend a lot of time in the sun, should have a skin cancer screening every year.  

Women’s Health Testing Recommendations

In addition to the screening tests listed for both men and women, there are other heath tests, which are recommended for women at different ages. Consider some of the following health screening tests: 

Pelvic Exam and Pap Smear: A pelvic exam checks for abnormalities of the female reproductive system including the uterus, ovaries and fallopian tubes. A pap smear is performed to identify the presence of cancer cells on the cervix. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recommends women between 21 and 29 have a pap smear every three years. Women between age 30 and 64 are recommended to have a pap smear every five years. 

Breast Exam: Although doctors recommend women perform a self-breast exam monthly, they should also have a clinical breast exam performed by a doctor every year after the age of 18. The exam is quick and painless.

See Also: Seven Must-Have Medical Exams For Women

Mammogram: According to the National Cancer Institute, over 200,000 women and 2300 men will be diagnosed with breast cancer in the United States in 2014. Early detection is key to higher survival rates. 

A mammogram uses low dose x-rays to create an image of the breast tissue in order to detect abnormal growths.