Women's Health

As you age, the risk of developing some diseases increases. Routine checkups and screening tests are important for you to stay in good health.

For a screening checklist, see www.ahrq.gov/ppip/men50.htm if you are a man and www.ahrq.gov/ppip/women50.htm if you are a woman.

How often you have the following tests depends on your age, your health, and things that increase your risk for specific diseases. Tests that may be done at your routine checkups include:

• Alcohol abuse (misuse) screening.
• Blood pressure screening.
• Breast cancer screening for women.
• Cervical cancer screening for women.
• Cholesterol screening.
• Colorectal cancer screening.
• Coronary artery disease risk screening.
• Dental checkup.
• Depression screening.
• Diabetes type 2 screening.
• Hearing tests.
• HIV test.
• Osteoporosis screening.
• Prostate cancer screening for men.
• Sexually transmitted infection screening.
• Skin cancer screening.
• Thyroid disease screening.
• Tuberculosis screening.
• Vision tests and glaucoma screening.

After reviewing all of the research, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force has not recommended for or against routine screening for dementia in older adults.¹

Monitor your weight, and see your doctor if you suddenly or consistently gain or lose weight. For more information, see the topics Weight Management and Obesity.

Sometimes doctors automatically schedule routine tests because they think that's what patients expect. But sometimes research shows that testing may not be useful or worth the risks or costs. For example, experts say that routine heart tests can be a waste of time and money. For more information, see Heart Tests: When Do You Need Them?