Adult Preventive Care Guidelines

Adult Preventive Care Guidelines

Gundersen is yur partner fr better health. We want t wrk with yu t make sure that yu and yur family are as healthy as pssible. That can be accmplished best if we wrk tgether as a team. These Preventive Care Guidelines will help yu understand the steps yu can take t imprve yur health. These steps are a guide t yur health. They are recmmended fr a persn with average health risks. Ask yur dctr if these guidelines are right fr yu. Tgether yu can develp yur wn persnal guide t better health. Adult Preventive Care Guidelines Screenings Wellness Exam We recmmend wellness exams fr all adults every 1 t 3 years. Regular health exams are imprtant t keep yu n the track t gd health. We will talk abut the screenings listed belw when yu have yur wellness exam. It is imprtant t have a wellness exam by itself, instead f trying t squeeze it int an illness visit r chrnic disease checkup. This allws yu and yur care prvider time t discuss yur care tgether, as a team. Bld Pressure (Hypertensin Screening) All adults shuld have their bld pressure checked at least nce every tw years. Gundersen strives t take a measurement every time yu visit the clinic. High bld pressure is ne f the leading causes f early death and disability in the United States. Frtunately, high bld pressure is almst always cntrllable. Checking bld pressure regularly and fllwing yur care prvider s advice abut diet, exercise, medicine, and changes in yur lifestyle yu can help cntrl yur bld pressure fr better health. Depressin and Anxiety Screening All adults age 18 years and lder shuld be screened fr depressin and anxiety at every wellness exam. Because mental health is s imprtant t yur verall health, yur health care prvider will ask yu a set f simple questins abut hw yu are feeling. Yur answers will help yu and yur prvider decide if hw yu are feeling is affecting yur health. Chlesterl Test Starting at age 20 years all adults shuld have a fasting chlesterl test. This test will measure all parts f yur chlesterl every 5 years. This test is called a lipid prfile. The research shws a link between high chlesterl and the increased risk f heart disease. All the parts f yur chlesterl (ttal, HDL r gd chlesterl, LDL r bad chlesterl, and triglycerides) are imprtant numbers t yur health care prvider. They help us understand yur risk fr heart disease. Gundersen recmmends testing by a qualified labratry r healthcare prvider t make sure results are accurate and reliable. Page 2

Fasting Bld Sugar (Diabetes Screening) Starting at age 18, a fasting bld sugar shuld be measured every three years t screen fr diabetes mellitus. Many peple have diabetes mellitus withut knwing it. If nt treated, diabetes can be very serius, but diabetes can be cntrlled. Early diagnsis and treatment lwers the risks f cmplicatins and imprves yur health. If yu have certain risk factrs like being verweight r nt exercising, yur chances f develping diabetes are higher. Mammgraphy (Breast Cancer Screening) Wmen age 40 years and lder shuld talk with their health care prvider abut their risk f breast cancer. Yu and yur dctr can decide when yu shuld begin having a mammgram and hw ften t have ne. Mst wmen will start getting a yearly r every-ther-year mammgram at age 40 and cntinue until age 75. Breast care is ne the mst imprtant parts f wmen s healthcare. A clinical breast exam can find changes in the breast, and regular mammgrams are keys t early diagnsis and treatment f breast cancer. It is easier and mre effective t treat cancer if it is fund early. Pap Smear (Cervical Cancer Screening) Wmen age 21 and lder shuld have a Pap smear every 3 years until age 30, and then every 3 t 5 years until age 65. If wmen are als tested fr human papillma virus (HPV) test at the same time as a Pap smear, then wmen shuld have a Pap smear every 5 years. Multiple sexual partners, having sex at an early age, using ral cntraceptives and smking can put yu at higher risk fr getting cervical cancer. Even if yu d nt have these risk factrs, yu shuld be tested. Early diagnsis and treatment is imprtant fr treatment f cervical cancer. Chlamydia Screening Wmen age 18 t 25 years shuld have a chlamydia screening test every year. Testing fr Gnrrhea r ther sexually transmitted infectins may als be dne at the same time if yur health care prvider thinks yu are at risk. Chlamydia is the mst cmmn sexually transmitted bacterial infectin. Symptms are usually mild r absent. Hwever, untreated chlamydia can cause serius prblems. These things can put yu at higher risk f getting a chlamydia infectin: New r multiple sexual partners A previus sexually transmitted disease Nt regularly using barrier methd birth cntrl, such as cndms. Testing can be dne as part f the rutine gyneclgical exam. Clrectal Cancer Screening A cmplete clnscpy shuld be dne every 10 years fr thse age 50 years and lder. Yearly stl samples (a FIT test) is an acceptable alternative. Clrectal cancer is the secnd leading cause f cancer deaths amng all adults. Clnscpy is the best way t find cln cancer at an early stage, when successful treatment is likely. Sme cancers may be prevented by detectin and remval f plyps. Exercising, limiting fats, and eating plenty f fiber als helps reduce yur risk f having cln cancer. If a plyp is fund, screening may be recmmended mre ften. Page 3

Bne Mineral Density (Osteprsis Screening) Wmen age 65 and lder shuld have a bne mineral density measurement at least nce. Based n risk factrs, wmen may need t be screened earlier. Many men may als be screened. Osteprsis is a disease in which bnes becme fragile and mre likely t break. It is mre cmmn in wmen than men. Use f sme medicines, heavy use f alchl, and yur bdy structure can all affect yur risk f steprsis. Yu can t tell if yu have steprsis, but the infrmatin frm a bne density test will help yur healthcare prvider knw if yu have a risk f fractures. Starting weightbearing exercise when yu are yunger and eating fds high in calcium will help prevent steprsis. Hepatitis C Screening Adults brn between 1945 and 1965 shuld be screened nce fr hepatitis C virus with a simple bld test. Hepatitis C is mre cmmn amng adults wh have had bld transfusins r injected illegal drugs. Hwever, many baby bmers were infected in their teens and twenties. Millins f Americans are infected with the hepatitis C virus, but dn t knw abut it. It is pssible t have a lng-term infectin, but nt have any symptms. Untreated hepatitis C can damage the liver. Lung Cancer Screening Adults age 55 t 80 years wh have smked heavily (equal t a pack f cigarettes per day fr 30 years) and smke nw, r wh have quit within the last 15 years shuld have an annual screening using a lw dse CT scan. There is a strng relatinship between smking and lung cancer. The CT scan is like an X-ray machine that scans the bdy using lw dses f radiatin t make detailed pictures f yur lungs. If lung cancer is caught early when it is small and befre it has spread, peple have a better chance f living lnger. Abdminal Artic Aneurysm Screening Men age 65 t 75 years wh have ever smked shuld be screened nce fr risk f an abdminal artic aneurysm using an ultrasund test. An abdminal artic aneurysm is an enlargement f the arta. The arta is the main bld vessel that delivers bld t the bdy, at the level f the abdmen. This prblem is nt cmmn, but is fund mre ften in men ver the age f 65 wh have ever smked. An untreated aneurysm can lead t death, but if caught early and befre it becmes t large, it can be treated. Page 4

Immunizatins Tetanus Diphtheria Pertussis All adults wh have nt received this cmbined vaccinatin shuld receive it. All adults shuld receive a bster at least every 10 years. All adults shuld receive ne single dse bster with pertussis (Tdap) and tetanus diphtheria (Td) thereafter. Influenza Influenza vaccine (flu shts) shuld be given yearly t everyne age 18 and lder, especially anyne with a weakened immune system. The influenza vaccine can be given t anyne wh asks fr it. It may be helpful fr healthy wrking adults. Pneumcccal The pneumnia vaccinatin shuld be given t peple age 65 and lder. It shuld be given earlier t thse with medical cnditins that increase their risk f pneumnia. Fr this vaccine, yu will be given 2 shts ne year apart. Bth wrk tgether t give yu the best chance f aviding pneumnia. Herpes Zster (Shingles) Adults ver the age 50 shuld have this vaccine t prevent the re-ccurrence f herpes zster r shingles. Even if yu ve had the chickenpx r gtten an earlier vaccine fr shingles r chickenpx, yu shuld have this vaccine. In lder adults, shingles can cause a very painful rash and can be quite serius. This is a new vaccine in 2018 and it is mre effective than the lder vaccine. It is given in tw dses, abut tw mnths apart. Page 5

Adult Preventive Care Guidelines Gundersen Health System Applies t Females Males Males & Females Age 18-19 20 21-25 26-29 30-34 35-39 40-44 45-49 50-54 55-59 60-64 65-69 70-74 75+ Wellness Exam Every 1-3 years Bld Pressure Bld Pressure measured at least every 2 years Depressin and Anxiety Screening by survey cmpleted at every wellness exam screening Chlesterl test Fasting Ttal Lipid Prfile every 5 years Diabetes screening Fasting Bld Sugar every 3 years fr Bdy Mass Index (BMI) greater than r equal t 25.0 Breast cancer screening Discussin and shared decisin with prvider t determine frequency and age t start Mammgrams (every 1-2 years) Pap Smear/HPV test Every 3 years Pap Smear every 3 years OR Pap Smear and HPV Test every 5 years Chlamydia screen Yearly Clrectal cancer screening Clnscpy every 10 years OR Stl specimen yearly Osteprsis screening Bne Mineral Density at least nce Hepatitis C screening Once fr adults brn 1945-1965 Lung cancer screening Yearly CT scan fr heavy current r frmer smkers Abdminal Artic Once fr smkers Aneurysm screening Tetanus-Diphtheria Pertussis Influenza Pneumcccal Herpes Zster (Shingles) Immunizatins Tdap nce, then Td every 10 years Yearly Tw dses, ne year apart Tw dses, 2 mnths apart Remember these are designed t serve as a guide. Yu and yur health care prvider shuld wrk tgether t decide what care is best fr yu and yur verall health. Page 6

Making Healthier Lifestyle Chices Mre than 75% f all disease and illness is related t unhealthy lifestyles. Frtunately fr yu, there are many things that yu can d t keep yurself healthy. Team up with yur dctr fr medical and preventive care and make healthier lifestyle chices: If yu smke, cnsider quitting. If yu dn t smke, keep up with this healthy behavir! Avid indr areas where smking is allwed. Eating lw-fat, high fiber fd is the best way t lwer yur risk fr cancer, heart disease, strke, diabetes, and besity. Eat at least 5 servings f fruits and vegetables every day Chse lw-fat and nnfat dairy prducts, baked gds and meats. Cntrl chlesterl. Limit fds like eggs, liver, whle milk, and red meats. Shake the salt habit. Use herbs, lemn juice, flavred vinegars and spices t flavr fd. Get plenty f fluids. Drink water mre ften; alchl and caffeine less ften. Exercise is an imprtant way t lwer yur risk fr heart disease, cancer, diabetes, besity, steprsis, stress, and high bld pressure. Just d smething 30 minutes a day is all it takes. Take the stairs instead f the elevatr. Park yur car farther away frm the building and walk the rest f the way. Cnsider aerbic exercise such as biking, swimming r jgging t imprve heart functin and increase yur gd chlesterl. Cnsider strength exercise (sit-ups, weights, resistance bands) t increase active muscle tissue and burn mre calries. Flexibility exercise r stretching will keep yu flexible and decrease yur chance f injury. If yu drink alchl, drink in mderatin. Always use a designated driver if yu ve had t much t drink. Always wear yur seatbelts. Make sure any children in yur vehicle are wearing a seatbelt r are in a safety seat. Always wear a bicycle r mtrcycle helmet and make sure yur child des t. Wear sunscreen and cver up with clthing and a hat when yu are ut in the sun fr a lng time. Ease yur stress. Take time t manage yur respnse t stress: Think and dn t react. Stp breathe deeply r cunt t 10 (r 100 if that s what it takes.) Tune int the psitive. Lk fr the gd in every situatin. Talk t a friend t help put things in perspective. Take care f yurself. Make time fr yurself and enjy life. Read a bk, listen t music, take a walk, r have a gd laugh! If yu wuld like mre infrmatin n living a healthier life r t learn abut prgrams t help with smking cessatin, weight lss, stress management r physical activity, call the Gundersen department f Cmmunity and Preventive Care Services. These prgrams and infrmatin can help yu learn r maintain healthy living habits. Call 608-775-4717, email wellness@gundersenhealth.rg r brwse www.gundersenhealth.rg/wellness Page 7