The ColoHealth Health & Wealth Newsletter
May 2024
Vol. 14, Issue 8
What Health Screenings You Should Get, and When
Are you familiar with that old adage, “A stitch in time saves nine?”
It’s especially true when it comes to your health: catching a health problem early, even before it becomes symptomatic, and nipping it in the bud, can prevent you from having to treat it later, when it’s nine times more serious and costly to treat – or even fatal.
Preventive care saves lives.
By the millions.
For example, 51 percent of people with cancer found out as a result of a wellness checkup and screening visit with their physician. If they had waited until the cancer became symptomatic, their mortality rate would be much, much higher.
But too many people are skipping the checkups and wellness visits they need. According to the same Aflac-sponsored survey I linked to above, somewhere around half of Americans have been skipping checkups and preventive care visits. Which leads to big problems down the road.
That’s a dangerous game.
Don’t wait until you’re feeling sick to take care of yourself!
You’ll save time, effort, and expense if you catch problems early by staying on top of all your recommended screenings.
Depending on your age, here’s what you should be doing:
Schedule Your Annual Check-Up
Don’t underestimate the importance of this check-in with your doctor.
Most health insurance plans cover one physical a year, so what are you waiting for?
- Detect cancer in the early stages to significantly increase your chance of survival.
- Manage chronic conditions more effectively, and reduce the risk of complications.
- Catch and treat disease as soon as possible to improve outcomes and save money.
Knowing your health status can give you peace of mind and allow you to focus on living a healthy life.
Connect with your Personal Benefits Manager if you have any questions about your preventative coverage, or want to explore Colorado health options that allow you more choice and flexibility.
Screening Recommendations
Guidelines vary based on age, gender, and individual risk factors, but here’s a general breakdown:
Children
Newborns
- Newborn screening within the first few days of life to test for various genetic and metabolic disorders
- Growth and development checks at 1 week and 1 month
1 to 12 Months
- Growth and development checks at 2, 4, 6, 9, and 12 months
1 to 5 Years
- Growth and development checks at 15, 18, 24, 30 months and 3, 4, 5 years
- Dental (annual or as recommended)
6 to 18 Years
- Growth and development checks (annual or as recommended)
- Dental (annual or as recommended)
Learn More: Recommended pediatric preventive care services, screenings, and vaccinations
Women
18+ Years Old
- Dental (annual)
- Breast self-exams (monthly)
- Blood pressure check (annual)
- Cholesterol screening (as recommended)
- Pelvic exam (annual)
- Pap smear/Cervical Cancer Screening every 3 years starting at age 21, or as recommended
- STI screening (annual, or as recommended)
- Full body skin check (annual)
- Mental Health evaluations (as recommended)
- Fertility Testing (as recommended)
- Prenatal/Pregnancy evaluations (as recommended)
- Vaccinations (as recommended)
40+ Years Old
- Mammogram (every 2 years or as recommended)
- Cardiovascular, Diabetes, and Cancer screenings (as recommended)
- Bone density screening (as recommended)
- Thyroid panel (as recommended)
- Lung CT (as recommended)
- Colonoscopy (as recommended)
60+ Years Old
- Dementia and Alzheimer’s screening (annual)
Men
18+ Years Old
- Dental (annual)
- Testicular exam (monthly self-exams encouraged in addition to annual checkups)
- Blood pressure check (annual)
- Cholesterol screening (as recommended)
- STI screening (annual, or as recommended)
- Fertility testing (as recommended)
- Full body skin check (annual)
- Mental Health evaluations (as recommended)
- Vaccinations (as recommended)
40+ Years Old
- Cardiovascular, Diabetes, Cancer screenings (as recommended)
- Thyroid panel (as recommended)
- Prostate cancer screening (as recommended)
- Colorectal cancer screening (as recommended)
- Lung CT (as recommended)
- Colonoscopy (as recommended)
60+ Years Old
- Abdominal aortic aneurysm screening (as recommended)
- Prostate screening (as recommended)
- Dementia and Alzheimer’s screening (annual)
*This is not an exhaustive list, and additional screenings may be recommended by your doctor based on your health history and family risk factors.
You may be tempted to skip some of these screenings, especially if you have to pay a little extra for the tests and labs. Don’t!
Regular health screenings help you identify problems early. The earlier you detect issues, the better your chances of turning things around.
It’s an investment in your future that could end up saving you money in the long run, and keep you in tip-top health as you age!
Take Personal Inventory
Your annual wellness check is the perfect time to do a little self-reflection.
Ask yourself these questions:
- How balanced is my diet?
- Am I exercising regularly?
- How much stress am I experiencing, and what can I do to manage it?
- Are there any lifestyle changes I could make to improve my overall health and longevity?
Maybe you’d like to take up a new sport, like fishing or mountain biking.
It’s never too late to make positive changes!
Use this opportunity each year to commit to healthier habits for a longer and happier life.
Be There For Your Family
Taking the time to care for yourself isn’t just for you.
When you keep yourself healthy and catch problems early, you increase the chances of being there for your family. You’ll watch your children and grandchildren grow, and you may even get to meet your great-grandchildren!
If you’d like more information on programs with the best preventative care options here in Colorado, contact a Personal Benefits Manager today.
To Your Health and Wealth,
Wiley P. Long III
President- ColoHealth
The ColoHealth Health & Wealth Newsletter is published monthly and emailed to subscribers at no charge. Subscribe now to stay on top of the critical information you need to know about health insurance, healthshare plans and managing your finances to achieve financial security.
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