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Health screenings you need in your 40s and 50s

Detect diseases early with these crucial tests.

Updated on September 26, 2022

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Changes come with age, and the ways in which you monitor your health is no exception. Whether you feel healthy or not, it’s important to be screened regularly for certain health issues. Learning about these tests before you see your healthcare provider (HCP) will help you better understand the process—and be better able to anticipate treatments you may need.

WonderingShow More

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Vaccinations and Annual Checkups

Many of us received regular checkups as children, but wellness visits are still important through adulthood. During a wellness visit, your HCP will check your medical and family history, record your height and weight, do routine screenings, and more.

While frequency may depend on your age andShow More

doctor checking blood pressure
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Blood Pressure Screenings

Hypertension—or high blood pressure—puts your heart at risk. It can lead to heart disease and stroke, and nearly half of American adults face that risk due to their blood pressure numbers.

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommends that people begin blood pressure screenings at ageShow More

Blood samples
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Cholesterol Screenings

Cholesterol screenings help evaluate your risk of heart disease. High cholesterol can contribute to buildup in your arteries, which may make them narrower and less flexible, and increase your risk of an event like a heart attack. 

According to the AHA, all adults should begin regularShow More

woman discussing insulin with doctor
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Prediabetes and Diabetes Screenings

According to the American Diabetes Association (ADA), more than 8.5 million adults with diabetes are undiagnosed, even though a staggering 1.4 million Americans are diagnosed every year. That’s why diabetes screening is crucial. 

The USPSTF recommends that adults between the ages of 35 and 70Show More

doctor advising patient
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Screenings for Colorectal Cancer

Colorectal cancer—which is cancer in the colon, rectum, or both—is the fourth most common cancer found in Americans. According to updated guidelines published by the USPSTF in May 2021, colorectal cancer screening should begin at age 45 for people with average risk. 

“If you have a strongShow More

mature woman at dental checkup
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Dental Exams

It's recommended you go to the dentist regularly for a dental exam and cleanings. Oral cancer is more prevalent if you are over the age of 40. Smoking is a major risk factor for periodontal (gum) disease but is by no means the only cause.

Your dentist can evaluate your mouth and throat during thisShow More

man getting eye exam
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Eye Exams

The CDC estimates that more than 4.2 million Americans over the age of 40 are either legally blind or have low vision (vision of less than 20/40 in the better-seeing eye). The top causes of vision loss in the United States, according to the CDC, are age-related eye diseases such as: 

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Skin Exams

Every year, Americans are diagnosed with skin cancer more than all other cancers combined. More than 9,500 people receive skin cancer diagnoses daily in the U.S., and two people die of the disease each hour, according to the Skin Cancer Foundation. By age 70, 1 in 5 Americans will have beenShow More

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Lung Cancer Screenings

If you have a history of smoking, you may be advised to undergo lung cancer screening. According to the USPSTF, you should be screened for lung cancer if you are between the ages of 50 and 80 and have a 20-pack-year smoking history and either currently smoke or have quit within the last 15 years. (Show More

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Additional Tests For Women

If you are a woman over age 50 who has broken a bone, you should get a bone density test (DEXA scan) as an osteoporosis screening. If you are at normal risk for osteoporosis, you should begin screening at age 65.

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) recommends women at anShow More

Latino male doctor consulting with a middle aged male white patient
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Additional Tests For Men

When to screen for prostate cancer is controversial, due largely to the chance of false positives or the fact that unnecessary treatment can cause harm to the patient. Recommendations vary among organizations and much ultimately depends on a patient’s preference.

Prostate screening is no longerShow More

Slideshow sources open slideshow sources

American Academy of Family Physicians. Adult Preventive Health Care Schedule: Recommendations from the USPSTF. Updated July 18, 2021.
American Academy of Ophthalmology. Eye Exam and Vision Testing Basics. Page last reviewed March 8, 2022.
American Academy of Ophthalmology. Get an Eye Disease Screening at 40. Page last reviewed April 8, 2022. 
American Cancer Society. American Cancer Society Recommendations for the Early Detection of Breast Cancer. Page last updated Jan. 14, 2022. 
American Cancer Society. American Cancer Society Guideline for Colorectal Cancer Screening. Page last updated Nov. 17, 2020. 
American Cancer Society. Can Lung Cancer Be Found Early? Last revised August 27, 2021
American Cancer Society. How to Do a Skin Self-Exam. Last revised July 23, 2019.
American Cancer Society. Lung Cancer Early Detection. Page last updated Aug. 27, 2021 
American Cancer Society. Melanoma Skin Cancer Risk Factors. Page last updated Aug. 14, 2019. 
American College of Cardiology. USPSTF Recommendations for Screening for HTN in Adults. April 29, 2021.
American College of Obstetrics and Gynecologists. Breast Cancer Risk Assessment and Screening in Average-Risk Women. Page last reviewed July 2017. 
American College of Obstetrics and Gynecologists. Cervical Cancer Screening. Page last reviewed May 2021. 
American Dentist Association. Home Oral Care. Last updated July 22, 2020.
American Diabetes Association. Statistics About Diabetes. Page last updated March 22, 2018. 
American Heart Association. Heart-Health Screenings. Page last reviewed March 22, 2019. American Heart Association. How to Get Your Cholesterol Tested. Page last reviewed Nov. 9, 2020. 
American Heart Association. Understanding Blood Pressure Readings. Accessed September 26, 2022.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Cholesterol: About Cholesterol. Last reviewed June 24, 2021.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Cholesterol: Managing High Cholesterol. Last reviewed October 31, 2017.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Common Eye Disorders and Diseases. Page last reviewed June 3, 2020. 
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. COVID-19: Frequently Asked Questions about COVID-19 Vaccination. Updated September 26, 2022.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Facts About Hypertension. Page last reviewed July 12, 2022. 
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Influenza (Flu): Influenza Vaccination: A Summary for Clinicians. Last reviewed August 31, 2022.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Tdap (Tetanus, Diphtheria, Pertussis) VIS. Page last reviewed Aug. 6, 2021. 
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Shingles Vaccination. Last reviewed May 24, 2022.
Medicare.gov. Yearly “Wellness” Visits. Accessed September 26, 2022.
MedlinePlus. Bone Mineral Density Test. January 10, 2022.
MedlinePlus. Cholesterol Levels. Last updated April 4, 2022.
MedlinePlus. Health screenings for men ages 40 to 64. Reviewed April 19, 2020.
MedlinePlus. Health screenings for women ages 40 to 64. Reviewed April 19, 2020.
National Cancer Institute. Skin Cancer Screening (PDQ)–Health Professional Version. Updated September 2, 2022.
National Institute of Aging. Taking Care of Your Teeth and Mouth. Page last reviewed March 13, 2020. 
National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research. Oral Cancer. Page last reviewed July, 2018. 
National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research. Periodontal Disease in Adults (Age 30 or Older). Page last reviewed August 2021. 
Skin Care Foundation. Skin Care Facts & Statistics. Page last updated May 2022
U.S. National Library of Medicine. Bone Mineral Density Test. 
U.S. National Library of Medicine. Health Screenings for Men Ages 40 to 64. 
U.S. National Library of Medicine. Health Screenings for Women Ages 40 to 64. 
U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. Adult Preventive Health Care Schedule: Recommendations from the USPSTF. As of June 18, 2021.
U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. Breast Cancer: Screening. Page last reviewed Jan. 11, 2016.
U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. Cervical Cancer: Screening. Page last reviewed August 21, 2018.
U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. Colorectal Cancer: Screening. Page last reviewed May 18, 2021. 
U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. Hypertension in Adults: Screening. Page last reviewed April 27, 2021.
U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. Lung Cancer: Screening. Page last reviewed March 9, 2021. 
U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. Prediabetes and Type 2 Diabetes: Screening. Page last reviewed Aug. 24, 2021. 
U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. Prostate Cancer: Screening. Page last reviewed May 18, 2018.

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