The majority of individuals do not visit a doctor until something is painful. That’s normal. But preventive screenings work differently.

They catch problems before you feel anything at all. So how often should you really go? It is determined by your age and the state of your health. Here’s what you need to know.

Why Bother With Screenings?

Medical conditions such as elevated blood pressure, excess cholesterol, and cancers at initial stages do not announce themselves.

You can feel perfectly fine while something builds in the background. These problems are detected during regular checkups when they are easy to treat. That’s it.

Just practical prevention.

In Your 20s and 30s

You’re probably busy. However, creating a health baseline now would help in making everything easier afterwards. Here’s the standard approach: 

• Annual checkup. Blood pressure, basic labs, general health assessment 
• Cholesterol test. First one at 20, then every 4 to 6 years if normal. Routine screening is strongly recommended for men aged 35 and older, and for women aged 45 and older who are at increased risk for coronary heart disease. 
• Diabetes screening. If you are overweight or obese, screening is recommended starting at age 35 and should be repeated every three years if results are normal. 
• Skin checks. Keep an eye on moles, get anything weird looked at. 
• Cervical cancer screening (women). Pap tests can begin at age 21 (once every 3 years with cytology alone). However, the American Cancer Society (ACS) now advises starting screening at age 25 with a primary HPV test. HPV testing (alone or with a Pap test) gets added at 30.
• Testicular self-exams (men). Monthly testicular self-exams are worth doing.

In Your 40s and 50s

This is when things pick up. Your body’s changing, and the screening list gets longer: 

• Annual physical. Every year, no skipping. 
• Blood pressure. At least yearly. 
• Cholesterol. Repeat every 5 years if normal, or more often if high. 
• Colorectal cancer screening. Screening now begins at age 45 for average-risk adults, usually with a colonoscopy every 10 years, or other options like an annual FIT test. 
• Mammogram (women). Women aged 40 to 44 should have the choice to start annual mammograms. Starting at age 45, women should get mammograms every year (ACS recommendation) or every two years (USPSTF recommendation) until age 54. 
• Diabetes. Screen every 3 years if results are normal. Screening is recommended for all adults aged 35 to 70 who are overweight or obese. 
• Shingles vaccine. Starting at age 50, a 2-dose Shingrix vaccine is recommended.

In Your 60s and 70s

The focus shifts to maintaining health and continuing crucial screenings: 

• Continue getting annual physicals. 
• Colorectal cancer screening. Continue screening until age 75. For ages 76 to 85, the decision should be based on individual preference and overall health. Screening is no longer recommended after age 85. 
• Mammogram (women). Continue every 1 to 2 years until age 75. 
• Hearing assessment. Starting at 65. 
• Bone density test (DEXA scan). Women starting at 65, men at high risk. 
• Lung cancer screening. Annual screening with low-dose CT (LDCT) is recommended for people aged 50 to 80 who have a 20 pack-year smoking history and currently smoke or have quit within the past 15 years.