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Health Resources

Plan for Prevention

If you want to take control of your health, but you’re not sure where to start, you’ve come to the right place.

Learn about preventive care and the steps you and your family can take to stay healthy, prevent disease, and live well.

These simple, but important, actions can help you live a longer and healthier life:

    •    develop and maintain healthy lifestyle habits
    •    get screening tests for early detection of disease
    •    stay up-to-date with immunizations

There’s no better time than now.

February is National Heart Month

Heart Disease is the most common cause of death for women in America. Heart disease occurs when plaque builds up in the walls of arteries, making them narrow and difficult for blood to find a path to flow through the veins smoothly. This process, called Atherosclerosis, can lead to blood clots, which can cause a stroke or a heart attack.

February is National Heart Month. Wear red to support Women’s Heart Disease and spread awareness about the symptoms and prevention methods of Heart Disease.

It is extremely important to know the heart attack warning signs, especially because they are not always the same between men and women. Some potential signs:

  • Uncomfortable pressure, fullness, or squeezing in the center of the chest lasting more than a few minutes
  • Pain spreading to shoulders, neck and/or arms
  • Chest discomfort with light-headedness, fainting, sweating, nausea and/or shortness of breath

If you think you may be at risk, consult your doctor. You can reduce your risk by making some lifestyle changes such as:

  • Reducing high blood pressure
  • Quitting smoking
  • Increasing your daily physical activity
  • Choosing to eat a healthy diet
  • Gaining control of your cholesterol

For more information about Heart Disease, visit:

Screenings and Immunizations

 

Prevention Guidelines for Adults

Download a printable version of the guidelines
Pauta de prevención adulto

Screening tests are an important part of preventive care. They are simple tests for the early detection of a disease or condition before you have any symptoms. The following screening tests are recommended for adults 18 years and older.

These recommendations are for generally healthy people and are for information only. If you have ongoing health problems, special health needs or risks, or if certain conditions run in your family, talk with your physician. He or she may recommend additional screening tests.

Types of Screening Tests and When They’re Recommended

Breast cancer
Mammograms are recommended for women age 40 to 74 every 1 to 2 years. Women 75 and older, should discuss the need for mammography with their doctor.

Cervical cancer
For women, have a Pap test every 3 years starting at age 21 or earlier if sexually active. Beginning at age 25, have a Pap and human papillomavirus (HPV) test every 3 years up to age 65.

Cholesterol
Starting at age 40, cholesterol should be checked every 5 years, more often if its level is higher than normal.

Colorectal cancer
Starting at age 50, have a fecal immunochemical test (FIT) once a year and/or a flexible sigmoidoscopy every 5 years. If you are older than age 75, talk to your doctor about colorectal cancer screening.

Diabetes
For adults older than 45 years of age, get tested every 5 years.

HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs)
Get tested for HIV and other STDs if you have had unprotected sex, are pregnant, or have any other reasons to think you may be at risk. Have a yearly chlamydia test if you’re sexually active and between ages 14 and 25.

Hypertension
Have your blood pressure checked every 1 to 2 years.

Osteoporosis
Talk to your physician about having a bone mineral density (BMD) test at age 65.

Overweight and obesity
Have your body mass index (BMI) calculated every 1 to 2 years.

Prenatal
During pregnancy, your medical team may recommend a variety of screening tests to make sure you are healthy and that your baby is developing properly. Take all the tests recommended by your medical team. Learn more about what to expect during pregnancy, labor, childbirth, and caring for your newborn.

Prostate cancer
Men age 40 and older, discuss the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test and rectal exam with your physician.

The following options will help you find out which preventive health services you might be due for.

  • At your next appointment, check the bottom of your registration slip.
  • Stop by Health Education to have a staff member look them up for you.
  • Go online to kp.org/prevention for more information.