Great Preventive Care Guide from BlueCross BlueShield

The best way to prevent numerous chronic diseases, heart disease, and obesity is to make sure you are getting certain tests done at your doctors to office on a regular basis.  Below is a great guide put out by BlueCross BlueShield of Florida that tells you what preventive care service you should have done during a certain timeline:

2011 Preventive Care Guidelines: To discuss with your Health Care Provider
Children & Adolescents (Birth – 18 years of age) Preventive Schedule

General Health Exams
Physical Exam and Developmental Behavioral Assessment	Every visit
Height and Weight	Every visit, BMI beginning at age 2
Blood Pressure	Annually, beginning at age 3
Vision and Hearing and Dental Screening	Annually, beginning at age 3
Recommended Screening for at Risk Patients
Cholesterol Screening	Annually, beginning at age 2
Lead test, TB, Sickle Cell & Blood Sugar	As indicated by history and/or symptoms
Chlamydia and STD Screening	As indicated by history and/or symptoms
Anticipatory Guidance
Injury/Violence Prevention	Annually, more often if indicated
Nutrition/Physical Activity Counseling	Every visit
Screen/Counseling for Tobacco, Alcohol and Substance Abuse	Every visit starting at age 14, earlier if indicated

Adult (age 19+) Preventive Schedule^*

Physical exam including history, blood pressure, height, weight, BMI	Annually
Blood Sugar Test	Annually
Nutrition/Physical Activity Counseling	Annually
Dental Exam	Annually
Vision Exam	Discuss with your physician
Recommended Diagnostic Check-Ups
Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Check	One-time screening for men ages 65 to 75 who have ever smoked
Bone Mineral Density Screening	Women starting at age 65; if increased risk for fractures and osteoporosis, start at age 60
Cholesterol and Lipid Screening	Ages 35+: All Men: Annually
Colorectal Cancer Screening	Ages 50-75; With either a colonoscopy, fecal occult blood test or sigmoidoscopy
Mammogram	Annually at ages 40+ (per the American Cancer Society); Every other year at ages 50+ (per the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force)
Pap Test	Sexually active women or women age 21+, should have a Pap Test every year for 3 years with normal results; then one every 2-3 years thereafter: Over 65 discuss with your physician
Recommended Screening for at Risk Patients
Chlamydia and other Sexually Transmitted Disease (STD) Screening	Sexually active, non-pregnant women age 24 and younger should be screened. Over age 24 talk with your physician.
Cholesterol and Lipid Screening	Ages 20+: Men & Women at increased risk: Annually
Prostate Cancer Screening	Discuss with your physician
Skin Cancer Screening	Discuss with your physician
Guidance
Screen/Counseling for Depression, Tobacco, Alcohol and Substance Abuse	Every visit, as indicated
Injury/Domestic Violence Prevention	Every visit, as indicated
Immunizations*
Tetanus, Diphtheria, Pertussis (Td/Tdap)	Ages 19+: Booster every 10 years
Influenza**	All Adults
Pneumococcal (polysaccharide)**	Ages 65+: 1 dose. By physician recommendation ages 19-64: 1 dose
Shingles (Zoster)	Ages 60+: 1 dose
Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, Meningococcal	Ages 19+: if other risk factors are present
Human Papillomavirus (HPV), Measles/Mumps/Rubella (MMR) & Varicella	Physician recommendation based on past immunization or medical history