Preventive care for ages 40 to 64

What is preventive care?

Preventive care is the care you get when your doctor assesses your health risks and provides health education counseling, screening tests and immunizations. It is different than when you visit your doctor for a specific concern like a backache. Preventive care is aimed at keeping you healthy or identifying problems while they are easier to treat.

Some preventive care can be done when you are being seen for other concerns. For example, you usually have your blood pressure checked whenever you visit your doctor. Women may need to schedule an additional appointment to keep up-to-date on breast cancer screenings and pelvic exams.

When to schedule a visit

It is recommended that men see their doctor every five years for a preventive care visit. Women should schedule a visit every three to five years. Each visit includes a height and weight check, a blood pressure check, preventive counseling, a health risk assessment and any necessary screening tests or immunizations.

Screening tests and immunizations

Men and women

• Blood pressure check: Every two years
• Cholesterol check: Men: Every five years; Women: Every five years, beginning age 45
• Colorectal cancer screening: Every five years, beginning at age 50
• Influenza vaccine: Every year beginning at age 50
• Tetanus-diphtheria booster: Every 10 years
  

Women

• Clinical breast exam: Every year
• Mammogram: Every year beginning at age 50. (Depending on your health history or preference, every year ages 40-49 also. Discuss with your provider.)
• Pap test and pelvic exam: Every three years (after three consecutive normals)

Lifestyle habits

It is never too late to eat a more healthy diet, get some regular exercise or stop using tobacco. If you have developed unhealthy habits over the years, do not give up hope. Slowly change your habits and set goals to improve the behaviors that can lead to a more healthy lifestyle.