Staying Healthy in an Era of Patient Responsibility

Screening for a Healthier Life

Screening tests play a big role in preventive medicine and are an important part of a physical exam. Health screenings have two major benefits:

• Impetus to Change: Seemingly healthy individuals can learn to guard their health more closely when a test reveals a borderline high cholesterol level, an abnormal Pap smear, or a precancerous polyp in their colon. Test results often help people take steps to reduce their risk and the likelihood that they will develop a life-threatening disease or disabling condition.
• Early Detection: Even before symptoms are recognized or increased risks are identified, screening tests help to detect disease in its early and most treatable stages.

Screening tests can seem so routine that you might take them for granted, but their power to keep you healthier longer should not be underestimated or overlooked. These “routine tests,” taken even though you have no symptoms, enable you to detect problems early, benefit from easier and more effective treatment, and sometimes even prevent disease.

The table below summarizes the conditions for which laboratory screening tests are recommended for people in different age groups. There are other important conditions that you may be screened for but that don’t involve laboratory testing. Please keep in mind that for many of these tests, no national consensus exists, so it is best to consult with your doctor to determine what tests are right for you. In addition, recommendations for newborn screening currently vary by state.