BY ELIZABETH EMORDI
The culture of annual physical is no longer advocated. Instead of an annual physical, periodic health examaminations are recommended.
What is PERIODIC HEALTH EXAMINATION? A periodic health examination is an evaluation of the general health status of an individual, during which a doctor will evaluate the body, organs, and their functioning.
These medical check-ups can help in the prevention, detection or treatment of conditions, such as high blood pressure or high cholesterol, and other treatable problems before they lead to more serious health problem.
Below is a helpful health examination routine for every stage of life:
FIRST WEEK OF LIFE
Antibiotic eyedrops at birth to prevent bacterial infection.
T4/TSH to check for overactive thyroid gland or an underactive thyroid gland
Phenylalanine test to check for a rare inherited metabolic disorder called phenylketonuria.
BIRTH TO 18 MONTHS OF AGE
Height and weight
Hemoglobin or hematocrit test to check for anemia
Schedule exams for two, four, six, twelve, fifteen and eighteen months of age.
19 MONTHS TO 6 YEARS
Height and weight
Blood pressure
Eye exams to check for amblyopia and strabismus
Urine test to check for bacteria in the urine
7 TO 12 YEARS
Height and weight
Blood pressure
Tanner staging to check for signs of normal sexual development
An exam to check whether the child has been immunized is recommended between ages 11 and 12.
13 TO 18 YEARS
Height and weight
Blood pressure
Tanner staging
19 TO 39 YEARS
Height and weight
Blood pressure
Pelvic exam in women to check for vaginal and yeast infection
Pap smear in women to check for changes in the cervix that could be cancer(annually)
Blood cholesterol
40 TO 64 YEARS
Height and weight
Blood pressure
Physical exam of breasts in women to check for lumps that could be cancer (every one to two years after age 50)
Pelvic exam in women
Pap smear in women to check for changes in the cervix that could be cancer (every three years)
Fecal occult blood test or sigmoidoscopy (annually beginning at age 50)
Total blood cholesterol test
Mammogram in women to check for signs of breast cancer.
65 YEARS AND OLDER
Height and weight
Blood pressure
Vision test
Hearing test
Physical exam of breasts in women to check for lumps that could be cancer
Pelvic exam in women
Listen to heart sounds
Total blood cholesterol test
Urine test to check for bacterial infection, traces of bleeding from bladder or kidney cancer
Mammogram in women to check for signs to breast cancer (every one to two years until age 70)