HEALTH SCREENINGS FOR WOMEN, AGES 65 TO 74
BLOOD PRESSURE SCREENING
What is it?
A test that measures the force of blood flow through your arteries.
When to get it? Once a year.
BREAST CANCER SCREENING
What is it?
A test that measures the force of blood blow through your arteries.
When to get it? Once every year.
CERVICAL CANCER SCREENING
What is it?
A Pap test, or Pap smear, detects changes in the cells of the cervix that indicate cervical cancer. A human papillomavirus (HPV) test looks for the type of HPV virus that causes cervical cancer.
When to get it? Every 3 years.
CHOLESTEROL SCREENING
What is it?
A blood test that measures cholesterol levels, including LDL (low-density lipoprotein, the “bad” cholesterol); HDL (high-density lipoprotein, the “good” cholesterol); and total cholesterol.
When to get it? Every 5 years.
COLORECTAL CANCER SCREENING
What is it?
Three methods are recommended for colorectal cancer screening. A colonoscopy uses a camera to check to cancer, polyps, ulcers and other abnormalities in the colon and rectum. A sigmoidoscopy also uses a camera to check for those conditions, but only in the pelvic colon and rectum. Stool sample tests check for blood in the stool.
When to get it? For all methods, start at age 50 and stop at age 75. For colonoscopy, every 10 years or more often if you have risk factors. For sigmoidoscopy, every five years or more often if you have risk factors. For stool samples tests, every year.
DIABETES SCREENING
What is it?
Diabetes screening tests are useful, because glucose in the urine can be an early sign that diabetes is developing. If diabetes is detected at a pre-diabetes stage, preventative action can be taken. Other diabetes screening tests may then be applied.
When to get it? Every 3 years.
OSTEOPOROSIS SCREENING
What is it?
A bone density test is an X-ray that measures calcium and other minerals in the bone to check for osteoporosis.
When to get it? Every two to five years for women 65 and older. Women younger than 65 with risk factors should talk to their doctor about a screening.
EYE EXAM
What is it?
A number of eye diseases may develop that can change your vision permanently. The earlier these problems are detected and treated, the more likely you can retain good vision.
When to get it? Every 2 years.
HEARING EXAM
What is it?
Hearing tests help determine what kind of hearing loss you have by measuring your ability to hear sounds that reach the inner ear through the ear canal (air-conducted sounds) and sounds transmitted through the skull (bone-conducted sounds).
When to get it? Every 5 years.
