Making a Plan for Preventative Care and Screenings
Putting your health first is important. One way to do this is by making a plan for preventative care and screenings. Whether it's staying up to date with recommended vaccines or scheduling screening tests to detect potential problems early, following different guidelines based on your age is crucial for maintaining good health.
"If everyone followed our preventative health screenings, we would catch disease earlier. We would be able to treat it and be more successful," stated Dr. Robert M. Biernbaum, chief medical officer for WellNow Urgent Care. "Instead of seeing end stage breast cancer, end stage colon cancer, we would catch them at a younger age and they would have a better outcome. So prevention is the key to being healthy."
To make it easier for you to stay on top of your health, CBS News HealthWatch has put together a series of guides outlining the preventative screenings recommended by experts for different age groups. Whether you're in your 20s, over 60, or anywhere in between, click on your age group below to find out more:
In your 20s
It's never too early to start thinking about your health, and our first guide focuses on young adults in their 20s. From basic vaccinations to STI screenings to mental health check-ins, this guide outlines the steps 20-somethings can take to set a good foundation for health and wellness.
- Guide to preventative health screenings you should get in your 20s
In your 30s
Your 30s are all about keeping up with routine checks you started in your 20s and introducing a few more to look out for your health in your next decade.
- Guide to preventative health screenings you should get in your 30s
In your 40s
Your 40s bring on some additional health tests and screenings to consider, including recommendations for mammograms, colorectal cancer screening and heart health checks.
- Guide to preventative health screenings you should get in your 40s
In your 50s
In your 50s, experts advise keeping up with routine checks and also introduce a few additional recommendations, including screening some in this age group for lung cancer and prostate cancer.
- Guide to preventative health screenings you should get in your 50s
In your 60s
In your 60s, there are some additional vaccines and booster shots to protect against illnesses that can be more severe with age, and several more screenings are recommended to help detect disease early for better odds of successful treatment.
- Essential health screenings to prioritize in your 60s
These recommendations are derived from the guidance of health professionals and organizations for individuals with typical risk factors. The timing and necessity of screenings may vary depending on personal health history and genetic predispositions. It is important to consult with your healthcare provider for personalized advice on your health needs.
