Screenings save lives

Staying up to date with your health screenings can help you know your numbers and have a clearer picture of where you stand.

Based on your results, you and your doctor can put together a plan to help you improve your health. Our Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Van H. Dunn, recommends these screenings to help you maintain a healthier, fuller life.

Avoid being surprised by health issues, or, if there are any, get a jumpstart on necessary treatments. Individual screening schedules may vary based on your specific health history, family history and risk factors.

Check with your primary care physician to find out which screenings are right for you.

Schedule Your Screenings for the Year

These screenings are also an excellent way to check how well you are managing an already diagnosed condition. To get screened, visit your doctor or go to an 1199SEIU health fair at your worksite.

Your Benefit Fund’s Chief Medical Officer recommends that you follow these screening guidelines.

Screening	Beginning at age	How often?
Physical Exam	All ages	At least every year
Eye Exam	Age 40+	Every 2 to 4 years
Blood Pressure Screening	Age 18+	At least every year
Cholesterol*	Age 18+ If your initial test results were abnormal, or if you’re at higher risk of heart disease	Every 5 years As directed per your doctor
Glucose/Blood Sugar Screening for Diabetes*	Age 45+	With every annual checkup
Bone Density (osteoporosis screening)	Women: age 65+, as well as younger postmenopausal women who have risk factors or who have had a fracture as an adult Men: 65+	Women: Once, then as directed per your doctor Men: Discuss with your doctor

Cancer Screenings †

Colorectal Cancer	Age 45+	Colonoscopy every 10 years or Fecal occult blood test every year or Cologuard every 3 years Ask your doctor which test is best for you.
Cervical Cancer: PAP test	Women age 21–65	Every 3 years
Cervical Cancer: HPV and PAP test	Women age 30–65	Every 5 years, or just Pap test every 3 years (If an HPV test is positive, screenings should be annual)††
Breast Cancer: Clinical Breast Exam	Women age 20+	At your regular checkup
Breast Cancer: Mammography	Women age 40+	Every year
Prostate Cancer	Men: Discuss with your doctor	Discuss with your doctor
Lung Cancer	Current/former smokers within the past 15 years, age 50 to 80, who smoked 1 pack/day for 20 years or 2 packs/day for 10 years.	Annual

* Talk to your doctor if you smoke; are overweight; have high blood pressure, diabetes or a history of gestational diabetes; have a family history of diabetes, heart disease or stroke; or are at risk for coronary artery disease. ⌃

† For all cancer screenings, talk to your doctor about your history and see if you need to get additional tests at an earlier age. ⌃

†† The HPV test looks for infections that are likely to cause cervical cancer, and can be used alone or at the same time as the Pap test.⌃

Sources: American Academy of Family Physicians; American Cancer Society; U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

If you need to find a primary care doctor visit our Provider Directory