All adults should visit their health care provider from time to time, even if they are healthy. The purpose of these visits is to:
Even if you feel fine, it is still important to see your health care provider regularly to check for potential problems. Most people who have high blood pressure don't even know it. The only way to find out is to have your blood pressure checked regularly. Likewise, high blood sugar and high cholesterol levels often do not produce any symptoms until the disease becomes advanced.
There are specific times when you should see your health care provider. Age-specific guidelines are as follows:
U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. Screening for Chlamydial Infection. Rockville, MD: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality; 2007.
Smith RA, Cokkinides V, Brawley OW. Cancer screening in the United States, 2008: a review of current American Cancer Society guidelines and cancer screening issues. CA Cancer J Clin.2008;58(3):161-179.
Gaziano JM, Manson JE, Ridker PM. Primary and secondary prevention of coronary heart disease. In: Libby P, Bonow RO, Mann DL, Zipes DP, eds. Braunwald's Heart Disease: A Textbook of Cardiovascular Medicine. 8th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Saunders Elsevier; 2007:chap 45.
American Diabetes Assocation. Standards of medical care in diabetes -- 2008. Diabetes Care. 2010 Jan;33 Suppl 1:S11-61.
National Osteoporosis Foundation. Clinician's Guide to Prevention and Treatment of Osteoporosis. Accessed Feb. 22, 2008.
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All adults should visit their health care provider from time to time, even if they are healthy. The purpose of these visits is to:
Even if you feel fine, it is still important to see your health care provider regularly to check for potential problems. Most people who have high blood pressure don't even know it. The only way to find out is to have your blood pressure checked regularly. Likewise, high blood sugar and high cholesterol levels often do not produce any symptoms until the disease becomes advanced.
There are specific times when you should see your health care provider. Age-specific guidelines are as follows:
BLOOD PRESSURE SCREENING
CHOLESTEROL SCREENING
DIABETES SCREENING
DENTAL EXAM
EYE EXAM
IMMUNIZATIONS
PHYSICAL EXAM
BREAST SELF-EXAM
PELVIC EXAM AND PAP SMEAR
U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. The Guide to Clinical Preventive Services. December 2010.
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Cervical cytology screening. ACOG Practice Bulletin No. 109. Obstet Gynecol. 2009; 114:1409-1420.
Smith RA, Cokkinides V, Brooks D, Saslow D, Brawley OW. Cancer screening in the United States, 2010. A Review of Current American Cancer Society Guidelines and Issues in Cancer Screening. CA Cancer J Clin. 2010; 60(2):99-119.
Mosca L, Benjamin EJ, Berra K, Bezanson JL, Dolor RJ, Lloyd-Jones DM, et al. Effectiveness-based guidelines for the prevention of cardiovascular disease in women--2011 update: A guideline from the American Heart Association. Circulation; 2011;123(11):1243-1262.
Mammograms. National Cancer Institute Factsheet. Last reviewed September 22, 2010.
American Academy of Ophthalmology. The Eyes Have It: Exam Frequency. Accessed May 14, 2011.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Recommended adult immunization schedule -- United States, 2011. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2011; 60(4):1-4.
Reviewed ByReview Date: 05/14/2011
Linda J. Vorvick, MD, Medical Director, MEDEX Northwest Division of Physician Assistant Studies, University of Washington, School of Medicine. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.