Prevention and Screening

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    Your Role

    Visiting a doctor regularly for check ups, staying up to date on immunizations, and being attentive to the preventative tests needed at different stages in life are some of the most beneficial actions we can take for wellness.


    Clinical Prevention Services

    The U.S. Preventative Services Task Force releases recommendations for preventative services based on rigorous review of the evidence.  These recommendations, in combination with the Centers for Disease Control's (CDC's) recommended immunization schedules, provide a comprehensive set of recommendations for primary and secondary preventative services for all Americans - from infancy through old age.

    Children and adolescents:

    • Immunizations can protect children and adolescents from serious and potentially fatal diseases, including mumps, tetanus and chicken pox.
    • Early screening can detect vision and hearing problems in your children.
    • Screening children and adolescents for overweight and obesity can protect them from adverse health outcomes later in life.
    Adults:
    • Regular checkups that measure weight, blood pressure, and cholesterol levels can protect men and women from chronic diseases, such as heart disease and diabetes.
    • A Pap test every 3 to 5 years for women aged 21 to 65, depending on age and testing method can protect women from cervical cancer.
    • A mammogram every 2 years beginning at age 50 can detect early signs of breast cancer in women.
    • Colorectal cancer screening beginning at age 50 can protect both men and women from colorectal cancer.
    • "Booster" immunizations can protect both adult men and women against tetanus, diphtheria, and whooping cough.

    Healthy People 2020, HealthyPeople.gov