Preventative testing over 50....when and why?

     As you push into your 50s and beyond, routine screenings to detect health problems become more and more important. Often, the earlier a problem is detected and diagnosed, the earlier it can be successfully treated or managed. Screenings are a critical part of protecting our health. But which tests do we really need, and when? And how do we weigh their benefits against any risks?

     The following screenings are recommended for people age 50 and older on a routine basis—that is, for people without symptoms or special risk factors for a given disease. The list is based on guidelines from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, a panel of experts in prevention and medicine that, after careful review of scientific findings, issues advice meant to guide medical care broadly, but not to determine individual cases.
     Under health care reform law, people in original Medicare will receive free preventative screenings starting next January, and most Medicare Advantage plans already offer this benefit.  Visit medicare.gov to learn more  Most of these screenings also are free for those getting new health insurance policies this year, after Sept. 23.

Prostate cancer: PSA
The test: a blood test known as the prostate-specific antigen test or PSA.

The guidelines: The task force recommends against the PSA screening in men age 75 and older, and concludes there is not enough information to recommend for or against the test in younger men. The American Urological Association says the test should be offered to "well-informed men who wish to pursue early diagnosis," starting at age 40 and as long as a man's life expectancy is at least 10 years.

Breast cancer: mammogram
The test: a mammogram, which is a specialized x-ray of the breast.

The guidelines: The task force calls for women between ages 50 and 74 to get a mammogram every two years, saying there's not enough evidence to support a recommendation for or against the test later in life.

Colorectal cancer: sigmoidoscopy or colonoscopy
The tests: A fecal occult blood test simply requires a stool sample to check for blood. In two other screenings—sigmoidoscopy and colonoscopy—you must drink a preparation that purges your system. Then the doctor inserts a thin tube equipped with a tiny camera into the bowel to look for precancerous or cancerous growths. A sigmoidoscopy inspects only the lower colon, but a colonoscopy examines the entire colon.

The guidelines: The task force recommends screening with any of the three tests for people ages 50 to 75. Testing regimens, it says, can include a yearly fecal occult blood test, a sigmoidoscopy every five years with fecal occult blood testing every three years, or a colonoscopy once a decade.
For more information on cancer screening tests please click here.

Heart disease: blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar, weight
The tests: blood pressure and weight measurements, blood tests for cholesterol and sugar levels; ultrasound exam for abdominal aortic aneurysm.

The guidelines: The experts recommend getting your blood pressure checked at least every two years, your cholesterol checked regularly as determined by your doctor, and your blood sugar tested (a screen for diabetes) if you have high blood pressure or, for men, elevated cholesterol.

Cervical cancer: Pap smear
The test: a Pap test, involving a swab of the cervix.

The guidelines: The task force strongly recommends screening for women through age 65, saying evidence supports testing at least every three years.

Osteoporosis: DXA
The test: a bone mineral density scan. The most predictive test, according to the task force, is a DXA or dual x-ray absorptiometry scan of the hip.

The guidelines: Women should get a first scan at age 65, or at 60 if they are at increased risk because of factors like low body weight or a family history of osteoporosis, the task force says.

Depression: questionnaire
The test: Usually a questionnaire, possibly even a simple two-part question asking whether, in the last two weeks, a person has "felt down, depressed or hopeless" or "felt little interest or pleasure in doing things."

The guidelines: The experts recommend primary care doctors screen adults for depression—but only if those doctors have trained staff available to ensure appropriate follow-up and referrals for treatment. Many do not. 
To take a sample test click here.

HIV infection: HIV screening
The test: Usually a blood test to detect antibodies to the virus.

The guidelines: In 2006 the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended that everyone ages 13 to 64 be screened for HIV infection, regardless of their risk profile.

Before you take the test!

* Finding hidden disease can be a huge advantage—but not always. Screenings are useful when early detection—finding something before symptoms appear—leads to effective treatments that in turn lead to better outcomes like a longer life or less illness and suffering. With cervical cancer, early detection makes all the difference. By contrast, doctors could find additional lung cancers by screening apparently healthy patients, but this has not been shown to help people survive the disease.

     For further information on how new health insurance policies are covering these tests, please give our office a call or visit our website.