Take Charge of Your Health with Annual Checkups and Preventive Screenings

Routine checkups and preventive health screenings are important ways to protect your health. They help identify potential health concerns before symptoms start, allowing for more effective treatments and better outcomes.

In addition to helping detect certain types of cancer at their earliest and most treatable stages, screenings can uncover certain conditions such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, and osteoporosis. 

Keep up with your annual visits

Have you had your annual checkup yet? If not, now is a great time to schedule an appointment with your primary care provider. 

Annual wellness visits offer more than just a physical exam. They give you and your provider an opportunity to:

• Go over your overall health.
• Check your blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar, and other important health measures.
• Talk about any new symptoms or concerns.
• Update vaccinations.
• Review medications.
• Find out which preventive screenings are recommended based on your age, health history, and family history.

Recommended preventive screenings

The following recommended screenings apply to most adults, but you may receive different guidelines based on personal risk factors, history, or other conditions. 

Breast health - American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) 

• Clinical breast exam every one to three years, between ages 25 and 39.
• Clinical breast exam annually beginning at age 40. 
• Annual mammograms starting at age 40.

Cervical cancer screening – American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG)

Pap smear recommendations include: 

• Ages 21 to 29: Every three years.
• Ages 30 to 65: Every three years, or every five years when combined with HPV testing (co-testing.)
• Over age 65: You may consider stopping screening if you have had consistently normal results for the last 10 years. Check with your physician to come up with an appropriate decision. 

Colorectal cancer screening - U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF)

Routine screening typically begins at age 45, but may be done earlier for people with a family history of colon cancer, specific personal history of colonic polyps, or certain inflammatory bowel diseases.

General recommendations include: 

• Repeat every 10 years if no polyps are found.
• Repeat every five years if there is a family history of colon cancer or a personal history of polyps.
• Some people may require more frequent screenings as directed by a physician.

Prostate cancer screening - U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) 

For men of average risk, consider prostate cancer screening between the ages of 55 and 69 after discussing the risks and benefits with a physician.

For men of higher risk (African American men or any man with a family history of prostate cancer), screening can begin before the age of 55 and decisions should be individualized in consultation with a physician. 

Free community health screenings

As part of Beebe Healthcare’s charitable mission to encourage healthy living and prevent illness, Beebe's Population Health Department offers free health screenings throughout the community. 

Available screenings may include: 

• Blood pressure
• Blood glucose
• Cholesterol
• Bone density
• Osteoporosis
• Skin cancer 
• Various cancer risk assessments 

These screenings help identify potential health concerns and connect people with the care and resources they need. 

To schedule screenings for your group or event, contact Beebe Healthcare's Population Health Department at 302-645-3337. You can also check the calendar of events for upcoming offerings.

Screenings save lives

Preventive care saves lives. Staying up-to-date with annual checkups and recommended screenings will help you identify health problems early, giving you more treatment options and better outcomes. 

Need a primary care provider? Beebe Healthcare can help. Check out Beebe’s Find a Doctor database  or call the Patient Access and Referral Center (PARC) at (302) 645-3332.

If you don’t have health insurance, consider applying through the federal or state Health Insurance Marketplace. Having health insurance can make preventive care more accessible, helping you stay healthy and catch potential health issues early.