Loyola Univ. Health Sys. - Health Information - Adult Preventive Health Recommendations

The following are minimum preventive health screenings that are recommended by various health organizations, including the American College of Physicians, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, the Canadian Task Force on the Periodic Health Examination and several other advisory panels. We provide them here as a service to consumers.

	Procedure	Procedure Frequency
Physical Exam Components	Blood Pressure	Every physician visit, minimum every 1-2 years
	Breast Exam	Every 1-3 years if under 40 years old. Annually over 40 years old
	Digital Rectal Exam	Annually over 40 years old
	Oral Cavity Exam	Annually in smokers
Tests	Cholesterol Test	Every 5 years
	Fecal Occult Blood Cards	Annually over 50 years old
	Mammogram	Annually over 50 years old (The American Cancer society recommends annual or biennial mammograms for women 40-49 years old)
	Pap Smear	Every 1-3 years until age 65
Vaccines	Influenza Vaccine	Annually if 65 or older or eligible
	Pneumococcal Vaccine	Every 6-10 years if 65 or older or otherwise eligible
	Rubella Vaccine	All fertile women require documented vaccination or adequate titers
	Tetanus-Diphtheria Booster	Every 10 years

The information on the Loyola University Health System (LUHS) Web site is for educational purposes only. It is presented in summary form in order to impart general information relating to certain diseases, ailments, physical conditions and their treatments. The information provided through the LUHS Web site should not be used for diagnosing or treating a health problem or a disease, nor is it a substitute for professional care. Should you have any health-care related questions or suspect you have a health problem, you should consult your health care provider. If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your doctor or 911 immediately. See also Disclaimer.