Contents Checkups, Tests, and Shots More Resources for Good Health |
3. Checkups, Tests, and ShotsWhich Ones You Need and When To Get ThemCheckups and tests, such as vision tests or cholesterol tests, help find diseases or conditions early, when they are easier to treat. Shots (immunizations) protect you from different diseases. This section gives you information on why and when you may need different checkups, tests, and shots. Dental, Hearing, and Vision Care"I keep better track of when my pets need their checkups than when I need checkups myself. I can't seem to remember the next time I need to visit the dentist or get my eyes checked. So I've started to ask my dentist and doctor when I need my next appointment. I write it down in my Pocket Guide to Staying Healthy at 50+." —Narong P. Getting the checkups you need for your teeth and gums, vision, and hearing is an important part of your health care. This section tells you how to take care of your teeth and gums and can help you decide whether you need your hearing and vision checked. Keep track of these checkups with your Checkups and Tests Record (PDF File, 31 KB, PDF Help; Text Version). Teeth and GumsHere are some simple tips to follow for dental health:
HearingHearing loss is one of the most common health problems. Your risk for hearing loss increases after age 50. How can you tell if you have a hearing problem? Here are some signs:
If you are worried about your hearing, talk to your doctor or nurse. They may suggest a hearing test. Hearing aids can help you hear well. VisionYou may have more vision problems—such as glaucoma, cataracts, or macular degeneration—now than when you were younger. Also, older people are more likely than younger people to suffer accidental injuries because of vision problems. By age 65, you should have regular eye exams.
Eyeglasses or contact lenses can improve your vision. Doctors also have other ways to protect and improve your vision. Be sure to tell your doctor if you are having trouble with your vision. Tests To Find Diseases or Conditions Early"Last year, my doctor told me I had high cholesterol. The doctor said to eat the right foods, lose weight, and exercise. I was worried about having a heart attack, but I didn't know where to begin. So I went back to my doctor and talked with her about a plan for taking better care of myself." —Marietta S. Many diseases and conditions can be prevented or controlled if they are caught early. This section will help you decide what tests you need and how often you need them. You can keep track of the tests with your Checkups and Tests Record (PDF File, 31 KB, PDF Help; Text Version). High Blood PressureHigh blood pressure can lead to heart disease, stroke, and kidney disease. It is most common in black people and people older than 45. Eating a healthy diet and being active are two ways you can keep your blood pressure under control. (Go to Eating Right and Keeping Active.) Some people need to take medicine to keep their blood pressure at healthy levels. If you take medicine, be sure to talk to your doctor about how to take it. Do not skip any doses of medicine. High CholesterolToo much cholesterol can clog your blood vessels and is a major cause of heart disease. To help lower your cholesterol and keep it at a healthy level, eat the right foods, maintain a healthy weight, and be physically active. (For more information, go to the sections "Eating Right" and "Keeping Active.") Your doctor or nurse may suggest you take medicine to lower your cholesterol. As a person 50 or older, you should have your cholesterol checked. Most experts recommend checking it every 5 years. Your doctor or nurse may suggest you have it checked more often, especially if your cholesterol is too high. DiabetesDiabetes, or high blood sugar, is a major cause of blindness, kidney disease, high blood pressure, stroke, heart disease, and amputation of the lower legs and feet. Almost all adults who have diabetes have type 2 diabetes. This type usually appears in middle age. The number of people in the United States who have type 2 diabetes is growing. Exercise, a healthy diet, and watching your weight can lower your chances of getting type 2 diabetes. If you already have diabetes, those health habits and quitting smoking can help you prevent or control many of the problems of diabetes. Your risk for type 2 diabetes increases as you get older. In the United States, almost 1 in 5 people between the ages of 65 and 74 has diabetes. Your risk for type 2 diabetes also is higher than average if:
You may want to be tested for diabetes if you have high blood pressure or high cholesterol. If you have diabetes, you may need to maintain lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels than you would if you did not have diabetes. For more information about quitting smoking, go to the Smoking section of this guide. OsteoporosisOsteoporosis, or thinning bones, makes your bones break easily. This condition is more common in women than in men. After women have gone through menopause, their bodies make less estrogen (a hormone that helps protect their bones). Their bones become more prone to breaking. Half of all women past menopause will break a bone during their lives. A bone density test can help determine whether your bones are prone to breaking. If they are prone to breaking, your doctor may suggest that you take a medicine to reduce your risk for fractures. Women who are 65 or older should be tested regularly for osteoporosis. You should begin to be tested at age 60 if you are at increased risk for fractures, for example, if you weigh less than 155 pounds. You can reduce your risk for osteoporosis by:
TuberculosisTuberculosis (TB) is an infection that affects the lungs and eventually other parts of the body. This infection can be passed from one person to the next. It is treated more easily if caught early. You are at greater risk for TB and may need a TB test if:
Tests and Exams To Find Cancers"I knew many of my friends were getting mammograms. But I didn't think it was very important because no one in my family ever had breast cancer. Then a good friend of mine was diagnosed with breast cancer, and she had no family history of it. So I decided to ask my doctor about the testing. She told me that all women 40 and older need a mammogram every year or two." —Anita T. You can increase your chances of finding a cancer before it has spread by getting certain screening tests and exams regularly. Many cancers can be treated more easily when they are found early. The tests you get and how often you get them will depend on your age, health history, and risk factors, such as family history and lifestyle. This section gives you some guidelines about what tests you may need to find certain cancers. You can keep track of cancer tests you have had by using the Cancer Tests Tracker (PDF File, 30 KB, PDF Help; Text Version). Colorectal CancerColorectal cancer is second only to lung cancer as a cause of death from cancer. But if colorectal cancer is caught early, it can be treated. Older men and women are more likely to get colorectal cancer than those who are younger. Starting at age 50, you should be tested for colorectal cancer. Tell your doctor if you have had polyps or if you have family members who have had colorectal cancer, breast cancer, or cancer of the ovaries or uterus. If so, you may need to be tested more often and at an earlier age. There are a number of effective tests, used separately or together, for colorectal cancer. Each has advantages and disadvantages. Breast CancerBreast cancer is the most common cancer among women in the United States.
Women 50 or older are at higher risk for breast cancer than are younger women. If you have a sister or mother who has had breast cancer, your risk is even higher. A mammogram every 1-2 years can help find this disease early when it is easier to treat. Mammograms have a few risks. They may not find all breast cancers. Also, they may show that you have cancer when you really do not. These false-positive results could lead to unnecessary biopsies. Cervical CancerAll women who are or have been sexually active are at risk for cancer of the cervix unless their uterus has been completely removed. Most deaths from cancer of the cervix can be prevented if the cancer is found and treated early. A Pap test is used to find cervical cancer. Women need to have a Pap test at least every 3 years, and women at increased risk for cervical cancer may need the test more often. You are at increased risk for cervical cancer if:
Your doctor may suggest stopping Pap tests if:
Prostate CancerProstate cancer is most common in men older than 50. You also may be at increased risk for prostate cancer if:
Tests such as a PSA (prostate-specific antigen) blood test or a digital rectal exam can help detect prostate cancer, but these tests also have risks. They sometimes have false positive results, which may lead to avoidable anxiety and unnecessary biopsies and treatment. It is not yet clear whether these tests save lives. Oral CancerOral cancer includes cancers of the lip, tongue, pharynx, and mouth. Most oral cancers occur in people older than 40 who use tobacco or alcohol. People who are in the sun a lot are at risk for cancer of the lip. You can help prevent oral cancer by not smoking or abusing alcohol. If you are outdoors a lot, use a sun block on your lips. If you chew or smoke tobacco or abuse alcohol, you may want your dentist to examine your mouth for signs of oral cancer during your regular dental checkup. You also may need to see your dentist more often. Shots To Prevent Diseases"I watched some of my relatives suffer with pneumonia and just hoped it would never happen to me. Then I found out about the pneumonia shot. I got one last year, and now I feel much safer. I tell all my friends and relatives to get the shot." —Belle T. You can prevent some serious diseases by getting shots (immunizations). This section tells you which shots you need and when. Keep track of the shots you receive. Use the Shots Chart (PDF File, 30 KB, PDF Help; Text Version). Tetanus-diphtheria ShotMost people need this shot every 10 years. Flu ShotsPeople 50 or older need a flu shot every year. Pneumonia ShotEveryone needs a pneumonia shot once around age 65. If you have lung, heart, or kidney disease; diabetes; HIV; or cancer, you may need this shot sooner. Hepatitis B ShotsYou should receive hepatitis B shots if:
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