Healthy Aging
It is never too late to take charge of your health by developing healthy habits and getting regular screening tests for common health problems. Screening tests include self-checks, clinical exams, non-laboratory tests (such as imaging tests), and laboratory tests. The focus here is on laboratory screening tests and other tests and conditions related to healthy aging. It’s easy to take these tests for granted, but their power to keep you healthier longer should not be underestimated.
General Screening Tests
Several major health organizations recommend routine health screenings for some conditions and diseases. Getting routine tests performed even though you have no symptoms can help detect problems early and help you benefit from easier and more effective treatment. It can sometimes even prevent disease. It’s easy to take these tests for granted, but their power to keep you healthier longer should not be underestimated. Talk to your healthcare practitioner about getting these recommended screenings.
| Condition | Screening Test(s) |
|---|---|
| Diabetes | Glucose Tests, hemoglobin A1c |
| High Cholesterol | Lipid Panel |
| Obesity | Physical Exam and BMI |
| High Blood Pressure | Blood pressure reading |
| HIV | HIV antibody and antigen (P24) |
| Sexually Transmitted Diseases | Chlamydia Testing, Gonorrhea Testing, Syphilis Testing |
| Colon Cancer | FOBT, Colonoscopy |
| Hepatitis C | Hep C Testing |
Two panels of tests are frequently used as general health screenings. These tests can screen for a number of health issues at the same time. Your healthcare practitioner may order these when you have a general health examination:
| Blood Test Panels | Examples of Conditions Screened |
|---|---|
| Complete blood count (CBC) | Anemia, infection, iron deficiency, bleeding disorders |
| Complete metabolic panel (CMP) | Liver disease, kidney disease, electrolyte and acid/base balance |
Healthy Aging
Topics in the News
Task Force Proposes Colon Cancer Screening Start at Age 45
American Cancer Society Makes Key Updates to Cervical Cancer Screening Guideline
Report Shows Almost Half of Americans Have High Blood Pressure Using New Threshold
With Spike in Hepatitis C Virus Infections, CDC Recommends Screening for All Adults
New FDA Guidance Supports Genetic Testing for Specific Medications
New Guideline Addresses Biotin Interference in Some Lab Tests
Treating Men for Age-related Low Testosterone
Study Finds Vitamin D, Fish Oil Do Not Curb Inflammation
BRCA-related Cancer Risk Assessment for More Women Urged
CDC Updates Health Guide for International Travelers
Patient Resources
How to Read Your Lab Report
Wellness and Prevention in an Era of Patient Responsibility
Coping with Test Pain, Discomfort and Anxiety
Collecting Samples for Testing
Biotin Can Affect Some Blood Test Results
With Home Testing, Consumers Take Charge of their Health
Elsewhere on the Web
There’s a Vaccine for Shingles?! (CDC podcast)
Alzheimer’s Disease and Healthy Aging (CDC)
Flu Information for 65 and over (CDC)
Department of Health and Human Services: Healthy Aging
National Institute on Aging: Healthy Aging
MedlinePlus: Senors’ Health
American Geriatrics Society: HealthinAging.org
Learn about conditions that can affect your health
As we age, the risk of developing certain conditions and diseases can increase. By understanding these conditions and being aware of how they may affect you, you can be proactive in staying healthy. You can be more informed when talking to your healthcare practitioners about your health concerns. Read about the following diseases and conditions to learn about their signs and symptoms, related tests as well as their prevention and treatment.
| Examples of Conditions | Some Related Tests |
|---|---|
| Angina | Troponin |
| Arthritis | Rheumatoid factor, Cyclic citrullinated peptide antibody (CCP), ESR, CRP |
| Autoimmune diseases | ANA, anti-dsDNA, other autoantibodies |
| Cancer | Screening tests for Adults 50 and older |
| Cardiovascular disease (CVD) | Cardiac risk assessment, lipid panel |
| Gout | Uric acid, synovial fluid analysis |
| Influenza (flu) | Influenza testing |
| Kidney disease | Urine albumin (microalbumin), creatinine, BUN, cystatin C |
| Osteoporosis | Dexa scan, Bone markers |
| Pneumonia | Sputum culture, antibiotic susceptibility testing |
| Sepsis | Procalcitonin, blood culture, urine culture |
| Shingles | Physical examination (sometimes varicella zoster testing) |
| Thyroid diseases | Thyroid panel, TSH, Free T4, T3 |
Learn more about men's and women's conditions
Women's Health
Conditions
Menopause
Ovarian Cancer
Breast Cancer
Cervical Cancer
Visit the Women’s Health article for more conditions related to women’s health.
Related News
American Cancer Society Makes Key Updates to Cervical Cancer Screening Guidelines
Men's Health
Conditions
Prostate Cancer
Testicular Cancer
Low Testosterone in Adult Men
Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH)
Visit the Men’s Health article for more conditions related to men’s health.
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