All adults should visit their health care provider from time to time, even if they are healthy. The purpose of these visits is to:
Even if you feel fine, it is still important to see your health care provider regularly to check for potential problems. Most people who have high blood pressure don't even know it. The only way to find out is to have your blood pressure checked regularly. Likewise, high blood sugar and high cholesterol levels often do not produce any symptoms until the disease becomes advanced.
There are specific times when you should see your health care provider. Age-specific guidelines are as follows:
Note: Patients with risk factors for colon cancer, including ulcerative colitis, a personal or family history of colorectal cancer, or a history of large colorectal adenomas may need a colonoscopy more often.
Health maintenance visit - men - over 65; Physical exam - men - over 65; Yearly exam - men - over 65; Checkup - men - over 65; Men's health - over 65
U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. Screening for Prostate Cancer. Rockville, MD: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality; 2010.
U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. The Guide to Clinical Preventive Services. Rockville, MD: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality; 2010.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Recommended adult immunization schedule -- United States, 2011. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2011; 60(4):1-4.
Smith RA, Cokkinides V, Brawley OW. Cancer screening in the United States, 2010: a review of current American Cancer Society guidelines and cancer screening issues. CA Cancer J Clin. 2010;60(2):99-119.
National Osteoporosis Foundation. Clinician's Guide to Prevention and Treatment of Osteoporosis. Jan. 2010. Accessed Dec. 15, 2011.
Clinical Practice Guideline Expert Committee. Canadian Ophthalmological Society evidence-based clinical practice guidelines for the periodic eye examination in adults in Canada. Can J Ophthalmol. 2007;42(1):39-45, 158-163.
Reviewed by: David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.
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