Health & Wellness

Keep Up With Recommended Screenings At Every Age

With so many health guidelines to track, make these tests a priority as you reach new milestones. 

by Roxanna Coldiron | Aug. 23, 2016 | 1:00 PM

20s: Women are more likely than men to have long-term health issues as a result of sexually transmitted diseases, including infertility, says the American Sexual Health Association. Doctors recommend screenings for chlamydia, gonorrhea, HIV and syphilis. Getting a Pap smear around age 21 is also recommended. For women with a family history of breast cancer, the National Comprehensive Cancer Network recommends beginning clinical exams at age 25.

30s: 
One in five Americans will develop skin cancer, but with early screenings most types have a 95 percent cure rate, according to the American Academy of Dermatology. 

40s: The American Cancer Society recommends women without a family history of cancer get their first mammograms to screen for breast cancer in their 40s. The most common test is a digital mammogram, but doctors may also recommend a breast ultrasound or MRI.

50s: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend testing for colon cancer after turning 50. Women should also continue to get mammograms, especially those who are at high risk for breast cancer. 

60s: 
The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends bone density exams to detect the onset of osteoporosis when women reach age 65. And after age 65, the Glaucoma Research Foundation says patients should be screened for glaucoma every six to 12 months to maintain proper eye health.

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