Preparing for Annual Health Examinations
Happy New Year to all! It’s 2022 and we have a blank calendar. This is a good time for family caregivers to schedule annual health examinations for themselves and their loved ones.
An annual wellness exam is recommended. It is not a physical exam. During a wellness exam, the health care provider updates the patient’s list of all providers and medications, schedules preventative screenings, tests cognitive ability and asks questions about nutrition, physical activity and alcohol/ drug use.
An annual physical exam reviews a patient’s medical and family history; measures vital signs and height and weight; assesses risks for preventable diagnoses; performs lung, head and neck, abdominal and neurological exams; checks reflexes; orders laboratory tests which may include HDL and LDL cholesterol, diabetes screenings, complete blood count, basic or complete metabolic panel and thyroid tests; checks skin for suspicious moles or lesions; and screens for sexually transmitted diseases and depression/mental health.
Women ages 18 to 39 years may need additional exams such as a pap smear for cervical cancer screening, an HPV (Human Papillomavirus) vaccine if not received as an adolescent, and breast exam. Pelvic exams and pap smears begin at age 21 and continue to age 65, when they may decrease to every two years. Men in this age group will receive a testicular exam.
At ages 40 to 64 years, shingles vaccines are added, pneumococcal vaccines at age 65 or older and an annual flu shot. The American Cancer Society recommends that screening for colorectal cancer begins at age 45 with a stool-based test or colonoscopy exam. Screening should continue every 10 years to age 75 if no risk factors are present. Risk factors include family history, presence of inflammatory bowel diseases and prior polyp(s) removal. Osteoporosis screening is done at age 50. Lung cancer screening is performed annually if there is history of tobacco use. Women will begin annual mammogram screening at age 40. At age 50, men will have a prostate exam and PSA (prostate specific antigen) test done. This could be performed earlier based on symptoms, risk factors and family history.
At age 65 years and older, a high-dose flu shot should be taken annually. Some women may no longer need pap smears if they have no history of cervical cancer. Pelvic exams may no longer be necessary.
Dental exams should be performed every six months. Foot exams are done annually or more often for those with diabetes. Per the CDC, everyone over 5 years of age are eligible for COVID-19 vaccinations.
Health insurance plans cover the total cost or a percentage for most annual exams and immunizations. Check with your insurance providers and your primary care providers prior to scheduling exams. Your primary care providers will order specific exams at the appropriate times and follow up with results.
Let’s stay healthy in 2022!
Rev. Jiles Taylor-George, RN, BSN, MSN is a native of Tallahatchie County. She is a Certified Family Caregiver Support Group Facilitator.
