All adults should visit their health care provider from time to time, even if they are healthy. The purpose of these visits is to:
Even if you feel fine, it is still important to see your health care provider regularly to check for potential problems. Most people who have high blood pressure don't even know it. The only way to find out is to have your blood pressure checked regularly. High blood sugar and high cholesterol levels often do not produce any symptoms until the disease becomes advanced.
There are specific times when you should see your health care provider. Age-specific guidelines are as follows:
Note: Patients with risk factors for colon cancer, including ulcerative colitis, a personal or family history of colorectal cancer, or a history of large colorectal adenomas may need a colonoscopy more often.
Health maintenance visit - women - over 65; Physical exam - women - over 65; Yearly exam - women - over 65; Checkup - women - over 65; Women's health - over 65
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U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. The Guide to Clinical Preventive Services. 2010-2011. AHRQ Publication No. 10-05145, September 2010. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Rockville, MD.
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Cervical cytology screening. ACOG Practice Bulletin No. 109. Obstet Gynecol.2009; 114:1409-1420.
Smith RA, Cokkinides V, Brawley OW. Cancer screening in theUnited States, 2012. A Review of Current American Cancer Society Guidelines and Issues in Cancer Screening. CA Cancer J Clin. 2012;62:129-142.
Mosca L, Benjamin EJ, Berra K, Bezanson JL, Dolor RJ,Lloyd-Jones DM, et al. Effectiveness-based guidelines for the prevention of cardiovascular disease in women--2011 update: A guideline from the AmericanHeart Association. Circulation; 2011;123(11):1243-1262.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Recommended adult immunization schedule -- United States, 2012. MMWR.2012;61(4):1=7.
Updated by: Linda J. Vorvick, MD, Medical Director and Director of Didactic Curriculum, MEDEX Northwest Division of Physician Assistant Studies, Department of Family Medicine, UW Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Washington. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M. Health Solutions, Ebix, Inc.
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