Aloha! Welcome To The "50th State"...
By gwatanabe
Oops...sorry... What I really meant was welcome to the state of 50...years young that is. Here is a topic I get asked about all the time. So I decided to FINALLY put a quick set of guidelines together for....you guessed it....all the cool things that happen right around the age of 50 and older. The following is a compilation of information found from the Centers For Disease Control and Prevention, The Cleveland Clinic, and Health Maintenance Guidelines from BlueCross BlueShield.
These health maintenance items are meant to be purely a guideline and should not be taken as the absolute law on what should be happening when you reach age 50. Your own physician is your best resource on what kinds of health maintenance you should receive around this age. Your individual situation will be different from anyone else's and your own physician may design a particular schedule of events according to what you need done. Some items may occur later and others may be done much earlier than other people for various reasons. Wow! There was the disclaimer. Got it?
So you find that you have reached the magic number of 50. The following is a general guide as to what you may expect as far as routine health maintenance in your coming years:
- A comprehensive health maintenance exam (physical exam) about every 1-2 years
- General health statistics (weight, body mass index, blood pressure) about every 1-2 years
- General exam for obvious signs of cancer (skin, mouth, lymph nodes, testicles) about every 1-2 years
- A complete breast exam by a physician yearly starting at about age 50
- Self testicular and breast exams every month
- For women, depending on your gynecologist's discretion, you may need a Pap Smear, Human Papilloma Virus, and Chlamydia screening between every 1-3 years according to your particular circumstances. Sometimes these exams can terminate at age 65 to 70--again at the discretion of your doctor
- For men, yearly Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) testing and digital prostate exams
- For women, yearly mammogram
- For women, Dexa Scan (osteoporosis screening) with a baseline around age 50 or at menopause, then usually every 2 years or earlier at the discretion of the doctor or as circumstances require
- Screening for alcohol abuse, drug abuse, depression, smoking at every health maintenance exam
- Lipid panel (cholesterol screening) at least every 5 years unless needed earlier due to cholesterol problems
- Diabetes screening blood tests every 3 years or more often if there are diabetes or elevated blood sugar issues found
- Blood pressure screening at least every 1-2 years
- HIV screening should be done at least once along the way--more often if higher risk activity
- Annual stool occult blood screening
- Screening colonoscopy every 10 years or flexible sigmoidoscopy (shorter than a colonoscopy) every 5 years--either one might be done at a more frequent basis depending on findings or at the discretion of the physician
- Influenza vaccine every year unless contraindicated
- Pneumococcal vaccine at age 65 unless contraindicated. If high risk adult (cancer, lung disease, diabetes, heart disease, immune system problems) then revaccinate in 5 years. High risk groups may also be able to obtain vaccine at an earlier age
- Diphtheria/Tetanus/Pertussis vaccine every 10 years up to age 65. Over age 65--one dose...unless contraindicated
- Varicella-Zoster (Shingles) vaccine at age 60 unless contraindicated
There you have it... as straightforward as I can make a set of complicated recommendations.
As always, if you have questions about your health, seek the advice of your own physician as he/she knows your medical history the best. Your own doctor can help you design a health maintenance program that is just right for your particular situation.
So until next time.....Stay Healthy Hawaii!
GW
One Doctor's Opinion
February 25th, 2011 at 9:04 am
I thought this was a fantastic blog, not only great writing but it has a great layout, well done.
February 25th, 2011 at 9:19 am
I always thought about it and what if we think about this from other side? It is nice discussion topic.
February 25th, 2011 at 3:43 pm
That was very interesting. There are not a lot of blogs out there with great information on your topic. I would like to learn more interesting info when I come back in a few days.
February 25th, 2011 at 7:12 pm
excellent write up here mat.e you are extremely talented & you should be proud of yourself for writing such great blog posts!
February 26th, 2011 at 5:17 am
Hi, nice text. Enjoy every bit. cheers.
February 26th, 2011 at 12:43 pm
very nice post, i certainly love this website, keep on it
February 26th, 2011 at 3:15 pm
I went over this internet site and I believe you have a lot of superb information, bookmarked (:.
February 26th, 2011 at 4:31 pm
Heh, my son placed this website on his favourites (we share the same comp). Looks good, keep going!
February 27th, 2011 at 10:19 pm
The blog was how do i say it... relevant, finally something that helped me. Thanks:)
February 28th, 2011 at 1:34 am
Many friends of mine talk about your blog anytime, and now I am here. After read a couple of your post, I must say that it's really great
February 28th, 2011 at 2:40 am
nice work !!
February 28th, 2011 at 3:17 pm
Thank you for this informative blog. It would be cool to also have some Rss feeds from you.
March 1st, 2011 at 3:22 am
So many comments in so little time, I have to second, its a great blog. the site is great
March 1st, 2011 at 7:37 am
yeah nice
March 1st, 2011 at 10:51 am
Dam this Blog is AWESOME. If you wrote this any better i would think you were a super human. lol nice.:)
March 1st, 2011 at 7:35 pm
some genuinely nice and useful information on this website , too I think the style and design holds fantastic features.
March 2nd, 2011 at 11:23 am
Excellent article indeed. Once upon anything so good I have not read - thanks boss.
March 2nd, 2011 at 6:59 pm
Enjoyed every bit of your blog post.Thanks Again. Fantastic.
March 2nd, 2011 at 7:44 pm
I appreciated this one thanks!
March 3rd, 2011 at 2:51 am
...
This is really helpful, I appreciate it...
March 3rd, 2011 at 8:06 am
I think you are right on the money, let me ask you a question, when do you plan on updating this???
March 3rd, 2011 at 9:14 pm
Very good article post.Really thank you! Really Cool.
March 3rd, 2011 at 10:47 pm
excellent article very helpful will visit again one day
March 3rd, 2011 at 11:05 pm
I absolutely adore reading your blog posts, the variety of writing is smashing.This blog as usual was educational, I have had to bookmark your site and subscribe to your feed in ifeed. Your theme looks lovely.
March 4th, 2011 at 3:34 am
great post very good informations thank you man
March 4th, 2011 at 8:34 am
unusual approach. waiting for the next entries.
March 4th, 2011 at 10:12 am
Right on Brother, great layout, nice opinions, fantastic blog. one in a million.
March 4th, 2011 at 12:11 pm
This is good info! Where else can i find out more?? Keep up the good work
March 4th, 2011 at 9:14 pm
Ok ive made my decision, im subscribing, this is awesome, keep it comin.
March 5th, 2011 at 7:00 pm
I found your blog via Google while searching for the related topic, your blog came up. Thank you for the fantastic blog. Amazingg skills! Continue man, you rock!
March 5th, 2011 at 8:13 pm
That was very fascinating. There are not a lot of site out there with great content on this topic. I hope to learn more great content when I come back next week.
March 6th, 2011 at 8:18 am
Great post thanks for the info I'm going to link to this on my facebook page so my follower see this, I'll be back soon keep up the good work.
March 6th, 2011 at 2:07 pm
I’ve bookmarked, Dugg, and I joined the RSS subscription. Thanks! .
March 6th, 2011 at 3:07 pm
A big thank you for your post.Really thank you! Keep writing.
March 6th, 2011 at 6:59 pm
I heard about your post from a coworker. She is right about you. Your website is very valuable.
March 6th, 2011 at 7:40 pm
Hey there! I'm at work browsing your blog from my new apple iphone! Just wanted to say I love reading through your blog and look forward to all your posts! Keep up the outstanding work!
March 6th, 2011 at 7:42 pm
Holla, fantastic blog!
March 7th, 2011 at 12:13 am
this is very good information
March 7th, 2011 at 8:58 am
I really appreciate this cool article. From there i get something I want to know. Thanks for the info.
March 7th, 2011 at 3:25 pm
Hey, thanks...I've been hoping for something like that. Fantastic! That's really helpful. Well done!
March 7th, 2011 at 7:56 pm
It shows how well you understand this subject. Bookmarked this page,thanks god someone that actually knows what they are talking about – thank you;2
March 7th, 2011 at 10:28 pm
What you do is great - but more frequent updates, please?
March 8th, 2011 at 3:07 am
I believe You should be a writer and write books.
March 8th, 2011 at 3:10 am
Some genuinely fantastic articles on this website , appreciate it for contribution.
March 9th, 2011 at 9:30 am
I appreciate your site and will subscribe to your rss feed so I can read anytime. Wonderful information,3$4
March 9th, 2011 at 1:14 pm
This is an excellent post.
March 9th, 2011 at 2:36 pm
Thanks alot for making your article such a great read. Looking ahead to reading the next one quickly, thanks again.
March 9th, 2011 at 3:32 pm
This is really interesting, You're a very skilled blogger. I have joined your feed and look forward to seeking more of your great post. Also, I've shared your website in my social networks!
March 9th, 2011 at 8:04 pm
Nice post. I am constantly checking this blog and I'm impressed! Very useful info specially the last part. I care for such information much. I was looking for this certain info for a long time. Thank you and best of luck.
March 9th, 2011 at 11:32 pm
Thank you for the good writeup. It in fact was a amusement account it. Look advanced to more added agreeable from you! However, how can we communicate?
March 10th, 2011 at 12:22 am
Interesting to know, always fun to learn something new, tho I'm not sure I completely agree with the point and view. Nonetheless, great share
March 10th, 2011 at 3:41 am
hi nice blog^^
March 10th, 2011 at 6:55 am
Hey there, thanks for the blog post! I have been following your weblog for a short time now and i am definitely having fun with it. I actually had a couple of questions concerning your blog though. Do you consider it will be possible for me to contact you further to debate it? Possibly setup a chat on e-mail or an instant messanging program? In any other case, many thanks anyhow and I will continue to read and comment.
March 10th, 2011 at 12:59 pm
I was very pleased to find this site. I wanted to thank you for this great read! I definitely enjoying every little bit of it and I have you bookmarked to check out new stuff you post. Cu
March 10th, 2011 at 7:09 pm
Great piece of details that you’ve obtained on this website submit. Hope I might get some a lot more of the stuff in your website. I will are available back again.
March 11th, 2011 at 12:22 am
I agree with your points , wonderful post.
March 11th, 2011 at 1:57 am
Thank you for the work you have put into this post, it helps clear up some questions I had.
March 11th, 2011 at 2:39 am
Thumbs up for this article!