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Staying Healthy at 50+

You can take action to stay healthy by following daily steps to good health, getting screening tests (standard tests to look for signs of particular diseases), and taking medicines to prevent disease. This list tells you what to do and when.

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What To Do and When

Daily Steps to Good Health

Be tobacco free: All men and women—Ages 50 to 80 and older.
Be physically active: All men and women—Ages 50 to 80 and older.
Eat a healthy diet: All men and women—Ages 50 to 80 and older.
If you drink alcohol, drink only in moderation: All men and women—Ages 50 to 80 and older.

Screening Tests and Preventive Medicine

Heart and Vascular Diseases

Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Screening Tests: Once for men—Ages 65 to 75 who have smoked^a.
Aspirin to Prevent Heart Attack: Men—Ages 50 to 80 at risk^a.
Aspirin to Prevent Stroke: Women—Ages 55 to 80 at risk^a.
Blood Pressure Screening Test: All men and women—Ages 50 and older, at least every 2 years.
Cholesterol Screening Test: All men and women—Ages 50 and older.
Diabetes Screening Test: Men and women—Ages 50 and older with high blood pressure.

Cancer

Breast Cancer Screening (Mammogram): All women—Ages 50 and older, every 1 to 2 years.
Breast Cancer Preventive Medicines: Women—Ages 50 to 80 at risk^a.
Cervical Cancer Screening (Pap Smear): All women—Ages 50 to 65, at least every 3 years.
Colorectal Cancer Screening Test: All men and women—Ages 50 and older.

Bone Disease

Osteoporosis Screening (Bone Density Scan): Women at risk^a—Ages 60 to 65, and all women—Ages 65 and older.

Sexual Health

HIV and Sexually Transmitted Infection Screening Tests: Men and women at risk^a—Ages 50 and older.

Mental Health

Depression Screening: All men and women—Ages 50 and older.

Immunizations

Flu Vaccine: All men and women—Ages 50 and older, annually.
Other Vaccines: You can prevent some serious diseases, such as pneumonia, whooping cough, tetanus, and shingles, by being vaccinated. Talk with your doctor or nurse about which vaccines you need and when to get them.

This information is designed to help people ages 50 and older stay healthy. If you are younger than 50, some of the information also may apply to you. Whatever your age, talk with your doctor or nurse about staying healthy. You can also get more information by going to the “Tools and Resources” page at www.preventiveservices.ahrq.gov.

The information here is based on research findings from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF). The USPSTF, supported by AHRQ, is the leading independent panel of experts in prevention and primary care. For more information about USPSTF, go to www.preventiveservices.ahrq.gov. This poster was developed in partnership with AARP.

^a What does it mean to be “at risk?” Being at risk means that you may be more likely to develop a specific disease or condition. Whether you are at risk depends on your family history, things you do or don't do (such as exercising regularly or using tobacco), and other health conditions you might have (such as diabetes). If you think you might be at risk for a specific disease, talk with your doctor.

AHRQ Publication No. 08-IP003-A (Poster)
AARP Publication No. C2456
Current as of May 2008

Internet Citation:

Staying Healthy at 50+ Poster. AHRQ Publication No. 08-IP003-A, May 2008. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Rockville, MD. http://www.ahrq.gov/ppip/50plusposter.htm