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Hey! I’ve Got Great News!

And who can’t use a little good news, right? Are you ready? Drumroll pleaseWere living longer! That’s right. As time marches on the average life expectancy is steadily on the rise. The U.S. life expectancy is now around 79 years old, and with medicine and technology improving daily, we have good reason to think the best of life is yet to come.

There’s no doubt that better healthcare, annual screenings and early prevention, are helping us live longer. But you do have to pay attention if you want to get the most out of life. Have ya ever heard that quote, If I’d known I was gonna live this long, I’d have taken better care of myself? Well, there is something to that.

Regardless of your age, being proactive about utilizing preventative healthcare screenings is great advice. All through life’s journey there are some checkups and routine maintenance you need to be aware of to help insure you get all life has to offer.

Always consult with your doctor on what’s best for you, but take action. Preventative care and early detection is always in vogue. For starters, check out this handy list of the fantabulous, exhilarating, fun tests and screenings you can look forward to! Ok, ok. So maybe they aren’t exactly fun, but taking responsibility for your health is so worth it.

As always, follow your doctor’s advice on which tests to take, and how often to take them.

 

10 of the most common health screenings for both men and women*

1 Cholesterol Screening/Lipid Profile: Have a screening every 5 years, beginning at age 20.

2 Blood Pressure: Check at least once a year, from childhood onward.

3 Diabetes Screening: Have one every year after age 45; be screened earlier and more often depending on risk factors.

4 Bone Density Test: Get one every 5 years starting at age 65, or sooner and more often based on risk factors.

5 Colon Cancer Screening: Plan to have a colonoscopy at age 50, and every 10 years after. If you have symptoms or risk factors, your doctor may recommend you have a colonoscopy more frequently.

6 Eye Exams and Vision Screening: Start at age 18, and then get checked every 1 to 3 years after, or more frequently if you have diabetes.

7 Hearing Test:Every 10 years for adults up to age 50, and every 3 years afterward.

8 Skin Cancer Screening: You can start at any age, and do this check yourself. Just look carefully at your skin each month for new mole growth or changes to moles you already have. If you see something that makes you wonder, have it checked out.

9 Vitamin D Test: Many people, men and women both, have low levels of vitamin D. This is a problem, since vitamin D helps protect against cancer, infection, and weakening of the bones. This bone weakness osteoporosisis common in both men and women, and a major cause of related health problems. The vitamin D screening is a simple blood test, and is recommended by doctors for people over 40, and yearly after age 45.

10 Dental Exam: Yes, a dental exam. Gum, tooth, and mouth health is linked to physical health. See your dentist once a year for cleaning and a checkup.

*cited from The Humana Learning Center: ?humana.com/learning-center.