Preventive healthcare plays a pivotal role in promoting longevity and maintaining overall wellbeing. For adult men and women, periodic health tests and vaccinations are essential components of preventive care. Prevention focuses on identifying and addressing health risks before they become serious medical conditions. Here is an overview of this topic:

HEALTH ASSESSMENT

A. Comprehensive physical examination

Importance: regular physical examinations provide an overview of an individual's general health and detect early signs of health problems.

Frequency: annual or as recommended by a healthcare provider.

B. Blood pressure measurement

Importance: high blood pressure is a significant risk factor for heart disease, stroke and kidney disease.

Frequency: at least once every two years, or more frequently if indicated.

C. Lipid panel

Importance: monitoring cholesterol and triglycerides levels helps in assessing the risk of heart disease and stroke.

Frequency: at least every four years, starting in early adulthood.

D. Blood glucose test and/or haemoglobin A1c

Importance: diabetes and prediabetes can lead to various complications if not detected and managed properly.

Frequency: every three years or more frequently for high-risk individuals.

E. Bone density test

Importance: osteoporosis can affect men and women, making bone density assessment vital, especially for postmenopausal women and elderly men.

Frequency: as recommended by a healthcare provider based on risk factors.

F. Vision and hearing tests

Importance: regular evaluation can identify vision and hearing issues that may affect overall quality of life. As an example, hearing impairment is considered a significant predisposing factor for dementia. Vision impairment is linked to a higher risk of falls, injuries and medications-related accidents.

Frequency: vision tests every one or two years, and hearing tests as needed.

G. Skin examination

Importance: skin cancer, including melanoma, can be life-threatening if not detected early.

Frequency: periodic self-examinations and professional skin checks, especially for individuals with risk factors such as fair skin, early-in-life or prolonged sun exposure.

VACCINATIONS

A. Influenza vaccine

Importance: influenza is a common respiratory illness that can lead to severe complications, especially in older adults.

Frequency: annually.

B. Tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis (Tdap) vaccine

Importance: protection against these bacterial infections is crucial, especially for wound management and in the case of pregnancy.

Frequency: every ten years, with a one-time Tdap booster during pregnancy, between the 27th and 36th week.

C. Shingles vaccine (herpes zoster)

Importance: shingles can cause severe pain and complications, particularly in older individuals.

Frequency: recommended at age 50 or as advised by a healthcare provider.

D. Pneumococcal vaccine

Importance: pneumonia and related infections can be life-threatening, especially for older adults and those with certain medical conditions.

Frequency: as recommended by age and risk factors.

E. HPV vaccine

Importance: human papillomavirus (HPV) is linked to several cancers, including cervical, anal and oropharyngeal cancer.

Frequency: up to age 26 for males and females if not vaccinated at a younger age.

F. Covid-19 vaccine

Importance: Covid-19 vaccines are crucial in the effort to control the spread of the virus and its variants.

CANCER SCREENING

A. Breast health

Clinical Breast Examination

Importance: clinical breast examinations performed by a healthcare professional help to detect any abnormalities or lumps in the breast tissue.

Frequency: CBE is typically done during annual check-ups for women aged 25 to 39, and then every one to three years for women aged 40 and older.

Mammogram

Importance: mammograms are a crucial tool for breast cancer screening as they can detect tumours before they are palpable.

Frequency: mammograms are typically recommended annually or as per a healthcare provider's guidance. For women at higher risk, earlier, more frequent, or more advanced screening modalities such as MRI may be advised.

B. Colon health

Fecal Occult Blood Test and Fecal Immunochemical Test

Importance: these non-invasive tests can detect blood in the stool, which may be a sign of colorectal cancer.

Frequency: annually or as recommended by a healthcare provider.

Colonoscopy

Importance: colonoscopies are the “gold standard” for colon cancer screening. They can identify precancerous polyps and detect early-stage colon cancer.

Frequency: starting at age 45-50 and typically repeated every ten years, or more frequently if there are detected abnormalities or risk factors, such as a family history of colorectal cancer.

C. Prostate health

Prostate-Specific Antigen test

Importance: PSA blood tests are used to detect prostate cancer and monitor its progression.

Frequency: typically, starting at age 50, or earlier for those with a higher risk. The frequency of testing should be discussed with a healthcare provider.

ELECTROCARDIOGRAM

Electrocardiograms (ECGs or EKGs) are not routinely indicated for prevention in asymptomatic individuals without specific risk factors for heart disease. An ECG is a valuable diagnostic tool, but its routine use for prevention in the general population is not supported by data or guidelines, especially as it carries a high potential for false positive and false negative information.

Same can be said about routine stress tests and chest x-rays.

In the end, it is essential to note that the recommendations for these tests may vary depending on individual risk factors, family history and source of guidelines followed by the healthcare providers. Adults should engage in open discussions with their healthcare professionals to determine the most appropriate screening schedules.

• Joe Yammine, MD, is a consultant cardiologist at the Bermuda Hospitals Board. The information here is not intended as medical advice or as a substitute for professional medical opinion. Always seek the advice of your physician