Preventative Care

As a nurse I'm always advocating for preventative care. If we can stop the problem before it ever happens, then we never have to fix it! So here are some preventative care timelines for you. I know that my parents are getting to the age where I am starting to bug my Dad about getting his colonoscopy done. Sometimes it takes subborn kids to get their stubborn parents into get this stuff done!

(*Disclaimer: These are guidelines, every person and situation is different, so talk with your physician or health care provider to decide what is right for you!)

WOMEN

Pap smear:

• Ages 21-29 should have one every 2 years
• Ages 30 and older may have one every 3 years if you have had three consecutive negative Paps        
• Most women can stop getting Pap smears done at age 65-70
• If you have had a hysterectomy for benign reasons, you no longer need Pap smears                  
• (ACOG 2009 Guidelines)

Mammogram:

• At age 40 should begin having a mamogram every 1-2 years                                                
• (American Academy of Family Physicians)

Colonoscopy:

• At age 50 should have first colonoscopy. After this the Gastrointestinal (GI) doctor will tell you how frequently you need to get one. If you have family history of colon cancer or are having GI bleeding, talk with your doctor, you may need get your first colonoscopy earlier.                      
• (American Academy of Family Physicians)

Lipid Profile:

• The NCEP-ATP III guidelines recommends lipid screening every 5 years for all adults over 20 years of age.                                                                                                                                  
• (Buttaro, Trybulski, Bailey, Sandberg-Cook, 2008)

Bone Mineral Density (BMD)(Screens for osteoporosis)

• Post-menopausal women under 65 years with risk factors for osteoporosis (thin, caucasian, limited weight bearing activity, low calcium/vitamin D intake)
• All women ages 65 and older                                                                                                
• (Buttaro, Trybulski, Bailey, Sandberg-Cook, 2008)

Obesity:

• This one is an ongoing one. Everyone should go to this website below and find out your body mass index (BMI).  http://www.nhlbisupport.com/bmi/. If you aren't where you need to be...start today and make changes. Being overweight is a risk factor for just about every disease out there.
• Underweight = <18.5
• Normal weight = 18.5–24.9
• Overweight = 25–29.9
• Obesity = BMI of 30 or greater

MEN

Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm

• One time ultrasound screening at age 65 years                                                                           
• (American Academy of Family Physicians)

Colonoscopy:

• Same as above for women

Lipid Profile:

• Same as above for women 

Prostate Cancer:

• Men over 50 should have routine digital rectal exams (DRE)(The doctor/health care provider puts their finger in your rectum to feel the prostate and detect abnormalities)
• The American Cancer Society recommends that African-American men over 45, and men with family history of prostate cancer over 40 be screened yearly for prostate cancer.
• Prostate specific antigen (PSA) is a blood test that can be done along with the DRE that aids in prostate cancer detection.                                                                                                     
• (Buttaro, Trybulski, Bailey, Sandberg-Cook, 2008)

Obesity:

• Same as above for women