Health screenings can help save our lives. Not only are routine tests capable of finding a wide range of medical conditions and diseases, but screening can spot diseases early in their development, when they are most treatable. And even if a disease is not yet present, certain test results can indicate risk factors that need regular monitoring to help avoid a disease or condition from occurring — before symptoms emerge.
Do you know which tests you should get and at what age? Are you aware of how often you should be tested? Do men and women require some of the same screening tests? The accompanying infographic, Health Screening Schedules for Men & Women Aged 40+, takes the mystery out of medical screening schedules.
How did we pick age 40? While health screenings are valuable for people of all ages, they become even more important after we leave our thirties behind. As we age, our bodies change. Some changes are easily apparent, such as wrinkles, gray hair, aches and pains, trouble sleeping and difficulty losing weight. Other changes occur internally, and we may not become aware of them until we get sick — or until a screening test shows a problem.
Early detection and regular monitoring is critical to preventing, treating and controlling certain diseases and chronic conditions. Be smart, get screened — and put your mind at ease!
Graphic created by Imaging Associates of Alaska, a provider of MRI scans in Anchorage.
