Edward-Elmhurst Health: Make these appointments every year

Healthy adults probably don’t give a lot of thought to seeing a doctor unless they get hurt or seriously ill.

Most healthy adults don’t need a lot of medical attention. But there are some things they should keep tabs on, even if they aren’t sick.

Making these medical appointments each year will help keep adults’ health on track as they age because doctors can address budding health concerns before they become big issues.

In your 20s and 30s:

• Primary care physician (PCP). Get an annual checkup, including blood work, from an internal medicine physician or a family medicine physician. A doctor will know when vaccinations are due, including a tetanus booster or chickenpox vaccine (which some adults may need if they never got the MMR shot as a child). Make a calendar note each fall to get a flu shot.
• Women: Gynecologist. An annual exam should include a Pap test, HPV test, pelvic exam, clinical breast exam, and, if there is a new sex partner, screenings for sexually transmitted infections (STIs). If women have more than one sexual partner, it might make sense to have a Pap test and STI test every six months.
• Dermatologist. Make an annual appointment for a full-body skin check, especially fair-skinned adults or those with a family history of skin cancer.
• Eye doctor. The American Academy of Ophthalmology recommends that adults with healthy vision have a complete exam by an ophthalmologist once in their 20s, twice in their 30s and at age 40.
• Dentist. The American Dental Association recommends dental cleanings/check-ups once or twice a year.

In your 40s, add:

• Women: Mammogram. This annual screening can detect breast cancer in its early stages when it’s most treatable. Ask a gynecologist about dense breasts and 3D mammograms.
• Men: Annual rectal exam/PSA blood test from a primary care doctor to screen for prostate cancer.

In your 50s (or earlier if you have risk factors), add:

• Colonoscopy. This important screening can detect early signs of colorectal cancer and remove polyps and tumors. Work with a PCP to identify a gastroenterologist. Gastroenterologists receive special training in colonoscopies and perform more of these procedures than any other specialty. If a colonoscopy shows no signs of cancer, adults can usually wait 10 years before getting another one.
• Lung screening. A lung CT scan is recommended every year for smokers, former smokers (who quit in the last 15 years) or other high-risk individuals, from ages 55 to 80.

If someone has a family history of certain diseases or other risk factors, they may need to have earlier or more frequent appointments and screenings. A PCP can help determine which appointments are needed.

For more information, visit www.EEHealth.org.