
Health exams for: #AGEGROUP#
The following exams, tests, and procedures are recommended for #AGEGROUPLOWER#.#FEMALETEXT#
Select a link from the list below to learn how and why each test is performed, as well how to prepare for it.
Exam
Frequency
Multimedia Gallery
Physical exam frequency
When you feel perfectly fine, the last thing you want to think about is going to the doctor. But that's exactly when you should be thinking about getting a physical exam. Regular physicals, as well as certain tests and vaccinations can be powerful ways to protect health. Let's talk about physical exams. You might feel well on the outside, but it's hard to know exactly what's going on inside your body. Many conditions that threaten your health don't have any symptoms. For example, you might have no idea that you have high blood pressure or high cholesterol, until they make you really sick. How often you need to see your doctor and what tests you get depends on your age and gender. Regular physicals are important for keeping tabs on your health. Plan to see your doctor once every 1 to 5 years, depending on what conditions you have. After age 65, you'll visit the doctor at least once a year. At each physical, your height and weight will be checked and your hearing will be tested. Your doctor should ask whether you've experienced depression, and about your use of alcohol and tobacco. Get your blood pressure checked once every two years, once a year if you're over 65. Look for blood pressure screenings at health fairs or drug stores in your area, or visit your doctor. If you have a health condition like diabetes, heart disease, or kidney problems, you may need to check your blood pressure more often. If your blood pressure is high, you should also have your blood sugar levels tested for diabetes. Men who are over 34 and women over 45 need a cholesterol test once every 5 years. People with certain health conditions may need to have their cholesterol checked more often. Everyone between ages 50 and 75 should be screened for colon cancer, but African-Americans may want to start getting tested at age 45. You can have a colonoscopy every 10 years, a stool test every year, or a flexible sigmoidoscopy every 5 years. Women need a Pap smear to check for cervical cancer once every 2 to 3 years. They should also have a mammogram to check for breast cancer every 1 to 2 years, depending on their risks. Because bones can become brittle with age, women over 65 need to have a bone density scan. Younger women and men should talk to their doctor about whether they need this test, based on their risks. To keep your teeth strong and healthy, visit your dentist once a year for a cleaning and exam. Also see an eye doctor for an exam every 2 years, especially if you have glaucoma or another vision problem. One of the best ways to avoid unexpected doctor's visits is to get the vaccines that are right for you. Vaccines aren't just a kids issue. Many adults benefit from a flu vaccine each fall or early winter to protect them for the whole season. Once every 10 years, get a Tdap vaccine, which protects against tetanus, diphtheria, and acellular pertussis. Older adults may also need to get vaccinated against pneumonia and shingles. Getting regular physicals when you aren't sick can help you stay on top of your health. Being proactive will let you and your doctor prevent and find potential problems before you have a chance to get sick.
Physical exam frequency
Review Date: 5/20/2019
Reviewed By: Laura J. Martin, MD, MPH, ABIM Board Certified in Internal Medicine and Hospice and Palliative Medicine, Atlanta, GA. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.
Animations

- Abdominal aortic aneurysm
- Abdominal pain
- Aneurysm description
- Arrhythmias
- Atherosclerosis
- Atrial fibrillation
- Balloon angioplasty - short...
- Blood clotting
- Blood flow
- Blood pressure
- Brain components
- Cardiac and vascular disord...
- Cardiac arrhythmia - conduc...
- Cardiac arrhythmia symptoms
- Cardiac arrhythmia tests: E...
- Cardiac arrhythmia: Additio...
- Cardiac arrhythmia: Heart p...
- Cardiac arrhythmia: Physica...
- Cardiac arrhythmia: Taking ...
- Cardiac catheterization
- Cardiac catheterization - a...
- Cardiac conduction system
- Cardiac CT scan overview
- Cardiomyopathy
- Cardiovascular system
- Causes and side effects of ...
- Cerebral aneurysm
- Chest pain
- Childhood obesity
- Cholesterol and triglycerid...
- Coronary artery bypass graf...
- Coronary artery disease
- Coronary artery disease (CA...
- Directional coronary athere...
- Electrocardiogram
- Epinephrine and exercise
- Erection problems
- Essential hypertension
- Exercise
- Hardening of arteries
- Healthy Guide to Fast Food
- Heart attack
- Heart bypass surgery
- Heart failure
- Heart formation
- Heartbeat
- How to use a pill cutter
- Hypertension
- Hypertension - overview
- Muscle types
- NICU consultants and suppor...
- Nuclear stress test
- Obstructive sleep apnea
- Percutaneous transluminal c...
- Physical exam frequency
- Preeclampsia
- Smoking
- Smoking tips to quit
- Snoring
- Stent
- Stroke
- Stroke
- Stroke - secondary to cardi...
- Tachycardia
- Tobacco use - effects on ar...
- Tracking your blood pressur...
- Type II diabetes
- Understanding cholesterol r...
- Vacation health care
- Valvular heart disease (VHD...
- Varicose veins
- Varicose veins overview
- Venous insufficiency
- What makes your heart beat?
Illustrations

- 15/15 rule
- Absent pulmonary valve
- Acute MI
- Adjustable gastric banding
- Aerobic exercise
- Alcoholic cardiomyopathy
- Alpha-glucosidase inhibitors
- Angina
- Anomalous left coronary artery
- Anterior heart arteries
- Aortic aneurysm
- Aortic dissection
- Aortic rupture - chest x-ray
- Aortic stenosis
- Aortopulmonary window
- Arterial embolism
- Arterial plaque build-up
- Arterial tear in internal c...
- Arteries of the brain
- Artery cut section
- Atherosclerosis
- Atherosclerosis of internal...
- Atherosclerosis of the extr...
- Atrial septal defect
- Atrioventricular block - EC...
- Atrioventricular canal (end...
- Auscultation
- Bacterial pericarditis
- Balance receptors
- Bicuspid aortic valve
- Biguanides
- Biliopancreatic diversion (BPD)
- Biliopancreatic diversion w...
- Biopsy catheter
- Blood pressure
- Blood pressure check
- Blood test
- Bradycardia
- Brain
- Brainstem function
- Breathing
- Bronchial cancer - CT scan
- Calcium benefit
- Calcium source
- Calories and fat per serving
- Cardiac arteriogram
- Cardiac catheterization
- Cardiac catheterization
- Carotid dissection
- Carotid duplex
- Carotid stenosis - X-ray of...
- Carotid stenosis - X-ray of...
- Cataract
- Cataract - close-up of the eye
- Central nervous system and ...
- Cerebellum - function
- Cerebral aneurysm
- Cholesterol
- Cholesterol producers
- Circle of Willis
- Circulation of blood throug...
- Circulatory system
- Clubbing
- Coarctation of the aorta
- Conduction system of the heart
- Constrictive pericarditis
- Coronary angiography
- Coronary artery blockage
- Coronary artery disease
- Coronary artery disease
- Coronary artery fistula
- Coronary artery spasm
- Coronary artery stent
- Crossed eyes
- CT scan
- Culture-negative endocarditis
- Cyanosis of the nail bed
- Cyanotic heart disease
- DASH diet
- Deep veins
- Deep veins
- Deep venous thrombosis - il...
- Developmental process of at...
- Dextrocardia
- Diabetes and exercise
- Diabetic emergency supplies
- Digestive system
- Dilated cardiomyopathy
- Double aortic arch
- Double inlet left ventricle
- Double outlet right ventricle
- Drug induced hypertension
- Duplex/doppler ultrasound test
- Ear anatomy
- Ebstein's anomaly
- ECG
- ECMO
- Effects of age on blood pressure
- Eisenmenger syndrome (or co...
- Electrocardiogram (ECG)
- Emphysema
- Endarterectomy
- Endocrine glands
- Enlarged view of atherosclerosis
- Exercise - a powerful tool
- Exercise 30 minutes a day
- Exercise can lower blood pr...
- Exercise with friends
- Eye
- Facial drooping
- Fast food
- Fish in diet
- Food and insulin release
- Food label guide for candy
- Food label guide for whole ...
- Foot swelling
- Fruits and vegetables
- Glucose in blood
- Glucose test
- Healthy diet
- Healthy diet
- Heart - front view
- Heart - section through the...
- Heart attack symptoms
- Heart beat
- Heart chambers
- Heart valves
- Heart valves - anterior view
- Heart valves - superior view
- High blood pressure tests
- Holter heart monitor
- Hypertension
- Hypertensive kidney
- Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
- Infective endocarditis
- Insulin pump
- Insulin pump
- Intracerebellar hemorrhage ...
- Intracerebral hemorrhage
- Janeway lesion on the finger
- Jaw pain and heart attacks
- Left atrial myxoma
- Left cerebral hemisphere - ...
- Left heart catheterization
- Leg pain (Osgood-Schlatter)
- Lifestyle changes
- Lobes of the brain
- Low blood sugar symptoms
- Low nasal bridge
- Lower leg edema
- Lower leg muscles
- Lung mass, right lung - CT scan
- Lung mass, right upper lobe...
- Lung nodule, right lower lu...
- Lung with squamous cell can...
- Lungs
- Lymph tissue in the head an...
- Male reproductive anatomy
- Mitral stenosis
- Mitral valve prolapse
- Monitoring blood pressure
- MRI scans
- MUGA test
- Muscular atrophy
- myPlate
- Neck pain
- Neck pulse
- Normal anatomy of the heart
- Normal heart anatomy (cut s...
- Normal heart rhythm
- Normal lung anatomy
- Omega-3 fatty acids
- Otoscope examination
- Pacemaker
- Pericarditis
- Pericardium
- Pericardium
- Peripartum cardiomyopathy
- Pharmacy options
- Pitting edema on the leg
- Plaque buildup in arteries
- Post myocardial infarction ...
- Posterior heart arteries
- Post-MI pericarditis
- Prevention of heart disease
- Progressive build-up of pla...
- Ptosis - drooping of the eyelid
- Pulmonary nodule, solitary ...
- Quitting smoking
- Radial pulse
- Read food labels
- Respiratory cilia
- Respiratory system
- Retrocalcaneal bursitis
- Right atrial myxoma
- Right cerebral hemisphere -...
- Roux-en-Y stomach surgery f...
- Saturated fats
- Secondhand smoke and lung cancer
- Shin splints
- Slit-lamp exam
- Smoking hazards
- Smoking hazards
- Sodium content
- Sources of fiber
- Stable angina
- Starchy foods
- Striae in the popliteal fossa
- Stroke
- Sulfonylureas drug
- Superficial thrombophlebitis
- Superficial thrombophlebitis
- Swan Ganz catheterization
- Taking your carotid pulse
- Thiazolidinediones
- Thoracic organs
- Thromboangiites obliterans
- Thrombus
- Thyroid cancer - CT scan
- Tobacco and cancer
- Tobacco and chemicals
- Tobacco and vascular disease
- Tobacco health risks
- Totally anomalous pulmonary...
- Totally anomalous pulmonary...
- Totally anomalous pulmonary...
- Trans fatty acids
- Transient Ischemic attack (TIA)
- Tricuspid Regurgitation
- Tricuspid Regurgitation
- Type I diabetes
- Ultrasound, normal fetus - ...
- Ultrasound, ventricular sep...
- Untreated hypertension
- Varicose veins
- Vascular ring
- Venous blood clot
- Ventricular septal defect
- Ventricular tachycardia
- Vertebra, thoracic (mid back)
- Vertical banded gastroplasty
- Vertigo
- Visual acuity test
- Visual field test
- Vitamin B1 benefit
- Vitamin B1 source
- Vitamin C benefit
- Vitamin C deficit
- Vitamin C source
- Vitamin E and heart disease
- Warming up and cooling down
- Wine and health