Internal Medicine
Preventative Health
It's important to see your doctor at least annually to discuss general health and well-being including mental health, diet and exercise, cancer screenings, and vaccines.
Part of the annual visit is also to have your vital signs checked including blood pressure and heart rate and have a full body examination.
Cancer screenings
Women: gynecology visit yearly with Pap smears every 2-5 years starting at age 21.
Women: breast cancer screening with mammograms yearly starting at age 40.
Men: prostate cancer screening with a blood test (PSA) starting at age 50.
Everyone: colon cancer screening starting at age 45.
Smokers who meet certain criteria should get annual lung cancer screening starting at age 55.
Vaccines
Annual flu and COVID vaccines.
TDAP (tetanus & pertussis) every 10 years but sooner if injured or will be around a newborn.
Hepatitis A & B series if never done as a child.
Shingles (Shingrix) at age 50 (2 vaccines given 2-6 months apart).
Pneumonia (Prevnar-20) at age 50 (sooner with certain medical conditions).
RSV at age 75 (sooner with certain medical conditions).
Other specialists
Seeing a dentist every 6 months as oral health has been connected to certain heart-related health conditions.
Seeing an eye doctor every 1-2 years especially if older than 40 and/or have underlying medical conditions such as diabetes or hypertension.
Seeing a dermatologist once a year for skin cancer screening.
Avoid...
Excess caffeine (limit to no more than 200 g per day).
Excess alcohol (women should not drink more than 7 drinks per week and men should not drink more than 14 drinks per week).
Smoking or vaping as both can cause cancer and lung disease.
Prolonged sun exposure especially without sunscreen.
