Many of the diseases that appear in later years can be avoided if caught early. In young adulthood, you can safeguard your health by scheduling a periodic health exam about every 5 years. Your health care provider will physically examine you and order appropriate screening tests to promote early detection of the most common yet treatable diseases, such as cancer,
diabetes, and
heart disease.
Your health care provider will use a “well visit” also as an opportunity to identify any risk factors you may have for common chronic diseases and to discuss what you can do to prevent illness and injury. Additional tests will be ordered based on risk factors A checkup at this age assures you are up to date with any new vaccines and required boosters and confirms that you have had all the appropriate childhood immunizations. Blood pressure, cholesterol levels, blood glucose, weight, height, and dental health should be checked as well. Attention also is given to accident and injury prevention as well as to health risks from sexual activity and high-risk behaviors such as smoking and substance abuse.
For more information on preventive medicine and steps you can take to keep you and your family healthy, read Staying Healthy in an Era of Patient Responsibility
Sources
Alvi MR. Checkup. 2004 Jul 13 (updated). Available on the Internet at the eMedicine Consumer Health web siteunder the “Public Health” heading: http://emedicinehealth.com/articles/11809-8asp. Accessed October 19, 2004.
American Academy of Family Physicians. Preventive services for healthy living. 2003 Mar (reviewed/updated). Available on the Internet at http://familydoctor.org/x1548.xml. Accessed October 19, 2004.
American Academy of Family Physicians. Summary of policy recommendations for periodic health examinations. Leawood, Kansas. 2003 Aug. Available on the Internet at http://www.guidelines.gov/summary/summary.aspx?doc_id=4183&nbr=3208. Accessed July 19, 2004.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Immunization Program, United States Department of Health and Human Services. Recommendations: adult immunization schedule. Available on the Internet at http://www.cdc.gov/nip/recs/adult-schedule.htm. Accessed October 19, 2004.
