Index by age group: 20's 30's 40's 50's 60's 70's and Beyond

YOUR TWENTIES What Tests Should I Have? Examination/Test/Procedure How Often   Blood Pressure   Every two years   Cholesterol test   Nonfasting total cholesterol and HDL   every 5 years   Pelvic Exam & Pap Smear   Annually; Pap at doctors discretion   after three negative tests   STD Testing   At your/your doctors discretion   Clinical (physician) Breast Exam   Annually   Breast Self-Exam   Monthly   Immunizations   Tetanus booster every 10 years   Eye Exam   Once during this decade or if vision   changes   Skin Exam by Dermatologist   Every two years   Skin Self-Exam   Annually Top 10 List For Staying Healthy Don't smoke Now that you can legally drink, don't do so in excess or when you'll be driving Use seat belts Limit your number of sexual partners and practice safe sex. Don't forget to exercise-even if your body and weight seem fine Take a multivitamin that contains 400 micrograms of folic acid and consume 1,200 milligrams of calcium per day in the form of dairy products, calcium-fortified foods or supplements. Eat a well balanced diet. Build a network of friends and colleagues to serve as your unofficial mental health support system Establish a relationship with a family or primary care physician Make sure you have adequate health insurance. What Can Go Wrong At My Age? Thyroid problems, Multiple Sclerosis | TOP | YOUR THIRTIES What Tests Should I Have? Examination/Test/Procedure How Often   Blood Pressure   Every two years   Cholesterol test   Nonfasting total cholesterol and HDL   every 5 years   Pelvic Exam & Pap Smear   Annually; Pap at doctors discretion   after three negative tests   STD Testing   At your/your doctors discretion   Clinical (physician) Breast Exam   Annually   Breast Self-Exam   Monthly   Immunizations   Tetanus booster every 10 years   Eye Exam   Once during this decade or if vision   changes   Skin Exam by Dermatologist   Every two years   Skin Self-Exam   Annually Top 10 List For Staying Healthy Don't smoke If you want to have children, start trying now and make sure your body is a healthy venue for pregnancy. Periodically reevaluate your choice of contraception. Practice safe sex with any new partners and get checked for STDs. Wear your seat belt Do not hesitate to seek help if you experience increasing PMS or depression Maintain a steady, healthy weight and return to it after pregnancy. Take a multivitamin that contains 400 micrograms of folic acid and consume 1,200 milligrams of calcium per day in the form of dairy products, calcium-fortified foods or supplements. Make sure you are informed about the results of all your lab tests, and if they are not normal (especially your PAP smear), get appropriate follow-up and/or therapy. Do some form of exercise for half an hour a day on most days. What Can Go Wrong At My Age? Thyroid problems, Multiple Sclerosis | TOP | YOUR FORTIES What Tests Should I Have? Examination/Test/Procedure How Often   Blood Pressure   Every two years   Cholesterol test   Nonfasting total cholesterol and HDL   every 5 years   Pelvic Exam & Pap Smear   Annually; Pap at doctors discretion   after three negative tests   Rectal Exam   Annually   Fasting Plasma Glucose   Every three years   Thyroid Test   TSH every five years   STD Testing   At your/your doctors discretion   Clinical (physician) Breast Exam   Annually   Breast Self-Exam   Monthly   Mammogram   Annually   Electrocardiogram   Every 5 years   Bone Mineral Density   At your/your Doctor's discretion   Immunizations   Tetanus booster every 10 years   Eye Exam   Baseline exam at age 40 then   every 3 years   Skin Exam by Dermatologist   Every two years   Skin Self-Exam   Annually Top 10 List For Staying Healthy Stop smoking Decrease your daily caloric intake by 100 to 200 calories Exercise regularly (30 minutes of moderate activity almost every day) Substitute complex carbohydrates (whole grains, fruits and vegetables) for simple ones such as white bread, potatoes and white rice Take a multivitamin and consume 1,200 milligrams of calcium from foods or supplements daily Moderate your alcohol and caffeine consumption as well as your sun exposure Establish distressing routines such as hot baths, meditation, reading and other pleasurable activities Seek help if stress or depression becomes unmanageable Build and maintain strong emotional bonds with your family and mate Cultivate and express your sexuality What Can Go Wrong At My Age? Weight gain, high blood pressure, tension headaches, migraine headaches | TOP | YOUR FIFTIES What Tests Should I Have? Examination/Test/Procedure How Often   Blood Pressure   Every two years   Cholesterol test   Nonfasting total cholesterol and HDL   every 5 years   Pelvic Exam & Pap Smear   Annually; Pap at doctors discretion   after three negative tests   Rectal Exam   Annually   Fasting Plasma Glucose   Every three years   Thyroid Test   TSH every five years   STD Testing   At your/your doctors discretion   Clinical (physician) Breast Exam   Annually   Breast Self-Exam   Monthly   Mammogram   Annually   Electrocardiogram   Every 5 years   Bone Mineral Density   At your/your Doctor's discretion   Fecal Occult Testing   Annually   Sigmoidoscopy   Every 5 years   Colonoscopy   Every 10 years   Immunizations   Tetanus booster every 10 years   Influenza vaccine annually after age 45   Eye Exam     Skin Exam by Dermatologist   Every two years   Skin Self-Exam   Annually Top 10 List For Staying Healthy Consider hormone replacement therapy; if you decide it's not or you, explore all other avenues of symptom control and heart and bone maintenance Stop smoking Exercise regularly (30 minutes of moderate activity almost every day). If you're not already doing some form of resistance training with weights, add this to your routine Make sure to get the checkups and screening tests recommended for your age group, including mammography and sigmoidoscopy or colonoscopy Take a multivitamin and consume 1,500 milligrams of calcium from foods or supplements daily Don't assume that vaginal dryness and diminished libido are inevitable in this decade. Take steps to address these problems Maintain a healthy weight with a diet low in fat (especially saturated and trans fats) and high in fruits, vegetables and fiber Limit alcohol intake to one drink a day or less Explore your family's medical history to look for clues to your genetic risks. Take any additional screening or preventive steps necessary. Allow yourself leisure time-you deserve it-and cultivate interests outside of hone and work What Can Go Wrong At My Age? Type II Diabetes, Autoimmune diseases (including Systemic Lupus Erythematosis, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Multiple Sclerosis, Scleroderma, Sjogren's Syndrome, and Myasthenia Gravis), thyroid nodules and cancer, lung cancer. | TOP | YOUR SIXTIES What Tests Should I Have? Examination/Test/Procedure How Often   Blood Pressure   Every two years   Cholesterol test   Nonfasting total cholesterol and HDL   every 5 years   Pelvic Exam & Pap Smear   Annually; Pap at doctors discretion   after three negative tests   Rectal Exam   Annually   Fasting Plasma Glucose   Every three years   Thyroid Test   TSH every two years   STD Testing   At your/your doctors discretion   Clinical (physician) Breast Exam   Annually   Breast Self-Exam   Monthly   Mammogram   Annually   Electrocardiogram   Every 5 years   Bone Mineral Density   Once at age 65   Fecal Occult Testing   Annually   Sigmoidoscopy   Every 5 years   Colonoscopy   Every 10 years   Urinalisys   Annually   Immunizations   Tetanus booster every 10 years   Influenza vaccine annually   Pneumonia vaccine once at age 65   Eye Exam     Skin Exam by Dermatologist   Every two years   Skin Self-Exam   Annually Top 10 List For Staying Healthy Continue (or start) doing regular, moderate physical activity If you have diabetes, hypertension, or abnormal lipids, make sure they are treated aggressively Increase your calcium to 1,500 milligrams at age 65; increase your vitamin D to 800 international units and take a multivitamin with at least 400 micrograms of folic acid. Also consider taking cardio protective vitamin E. If you have not taken estrogen, have tests to see if your bones and heart would benefit from this or some other therapy Talk to your doctor about the possible benefits of taking baby aspirin Know what tests are recommended for your age group and demand them from your doctor and your insurance carrier Insist on referrals to specialists when necessary Consider getting media insurance to cover what Medicare won't; also determine whether you might want long-term care insurance Consider ways to maintain intimacy and your sexuality Continue to develop new interests-read good books, take up a new hobby, go out of your way to meet interesting people and do interesting things that will stimulate your brain What Can Go Wrong At My Age? Osteoporosis, heart disease, diverticulosis | TOP | YOUR SEVENTIES AND BEYOND What Tests Should I Have? Examination/Test/Procedure How Often   Complete Physical   Annually   Blood Pressure   Annually   Cholesterol test   Every 5 years until age 85   Pelvic Exam & Pap Smear   Annually; Pap at doctors discretion   after three negative tests   Rectal Exam   Annually   Fasting Plasma Glucose   Every three years   Thyroid Test   TSH every two years   STD Testing   At your/your doctors discretion   Clinical (physician) Breast Exam   Annually   Mammogram   Annually   Electrocardiogram   Every 5 years   Bone Mineral Density   Once at age 65   Fecal Occult Testing   Annually   Sigmoidoscopy   Every 5 years   Colonoscopy   Every 10 years   Urinalisys   Annually   Immunizations   Tetanus booster every 10 years   Influenza vaccine annually   Pneumonia vaccine once   Once if never recieved   Eye Exam & Hearing Test     then annually   Skin Exam by Dermatologist   Every two years   Skin Self-Exam   Annually Top 10 List For Staying Healthy Don't automatically attribute new physical or mental symptoms to getting older Eat a variety of foods and make sure you're getting your five portions of fruits and vegetables Take a multivitamin and make sure you're getting 800 units of vitamin D and 1,500 milligrams of calcium from foods or supplements Continue to evaluate your need for estrogen replacement therapy Get some form of aerobic and strength-training exercise for a total of at least 30 minutes most days of the week. Exercise your mind, too, by engaging in productive activities such volunteerism and hobbies Fall-proof your home Keep a list of every medication you take and go over it with your physician during your annual examination Seek immediate attention for any infection-everything from a skin sore to cold or flu Ask someone to trust to objectively assess your driving skills; give up your license if you're no longer safe behind the wheel Make sure your family and physician have and understand your advance directives (living will and durable power of attorney for health care) What Can Go Wrong At My Age? Stroke, Alzheimer's osteoarthritis | TOP | Portions of this material printed with permission from Dr. Judith Reichman, M.D. | HOME | Rx For: | Passionate Sex | Incontinence | Staying Healthy | | About Dr. Stein | The Radio Show | Request Information |

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