Medical Tests You Need…
TYPE
Blood
cholesterol
A blood test to mea-
sure LDL (low-density
lipoprotein), the “good”
cholesterol; HDL (high-
density lipoprotein), the
“bad” cholesterol; and
total cholesterol
On a regular basis; high
cholesterol is considered
a red flag for heart dis-
ease and other medical
issues, so talk about the
test with your doctor
None
…And Tests
You (Probably)
Can Skip
Full-body CT scan
Blood
glucose
A test for levels of blood
sugar, which can reveal
the risk for or presence of
diabetes
If you have high blood
pressure or a family
history of diabetes
None
Blood
pressure
A test that measures the
force of blood flow inside
arteries; high levels could
signal heart disease,
diabetes, or other issues
At least every 2 years if
pressure is less than 120/
80, and once a year if it’s
120 to 139/80 to 90; more
often if it’s higher
Many doctors
prefer to check much
more regularly, so be
sure to discuss this
Body
mass
index
A formula that calcu-
lates your body fat—and
obesity risk—using your
weight and height
No specific USPSTF
recommendation, but
doctors like to monitor
this regularly, particularly
for overweight patients
Doesn’t take into
account frame size or
muscularity, so ath-
letic types may show
up as overweight
WHAT IT IS Computerized X-rays that
produce multiple 3-D images of a per-
son’s torso.
THE DEBATE Medical clinics have long
promoted this scan as a way to give pa-
tients an early warning about all kinds
of diseases. But most medical experts
strongly advise against its use when no
symptoms are present. It’s expensive,
uses extremely high amounts of radia-
tion, and often renders false positives or
reveals harmless abnormalities.
THE BO TTOM LINE Like other spe-
cialized C T scans (such as for lung or
pancreatic cancer), this is a diagnostic
tool, say doctors, that should be used
to help explain symptoms—not fish for
medical problems that may not exist.
PSA
Bone
density
An X-ray that measures
calcium and other
minerals in the bone to
check for the risk of
osteoporosis
Starting at age 65, or at
60 if you have risk fac-
tors, such as low body
weight or a family history
of osteoporosis
Some doctors recom-
mend a baseline test
at menopause, or
before for those with
risk factors
Colonoscopy
An exam that uses a
camera to check for
cancer, polyps, ulcers,
and other abnormalities
in the colon and rectum
Starting at age 50, and
every 10 years after-
ward—more often if you
have risk factors—until
age 75
A small risk of
perforation of the
colon lining increases
with age
WHAT I T IS A blood test to check for
prostate-specific antigen (PSA), a
protein made by the prostate. Elevated
levels could indicate cancer.
THE DEBATE Evidence for or against
the need for routine testing for men 50
through 74 is inconclusive. Some groups,
such as African American men, have
higher rates of the disease; physicians
often recommend yearly screenings for
them and many other patients.
THE BO TTOM LINE Consult your doctor,
especially if you have symptoms, such as
painful urination or blood in the urine.
Virtual colonoscopy
Mammo-
graphy
Pap smear
A low-radiation scan
of breast tissue in
women to check for
abnormalities
A test to detect changes
in the cells of the cervix
that indicate cervical
cancer
Every 1 to 2 years, starting
at age 40
At least every 3 years,
but if you’ve had 3 consecutive normal tests
within the past 10 years,
you can stop at age 65
Some doctors
recommend C T scans
or MRIs, but only for
women with very
dense breast tissue
or implants
Make sure you
get your doctor’s
approval before
stopping this test
WHAT I T IS A C T scan, called a C T
colonography, to check for colorectal
cancer, polyps, and other abnormalities
in the colon and rectum.
THE DEBATE A noted study recently
found this scan to be as accurate as a
regular colonoscopy, and less invasive.
But other research found it produces
more false-positive results, which may
lead to unnecessary biopsies and test-
ing. The USPSTF is neutral on the issue.
THE BOT TOM LINE lf the C T colono-
graphy shows an abnormality, you
still will need a regular colonoscopy to
remove it, so speak with your physician
about which test is best for you.
