Stay on top of your health with preventive care in Colorado
Routine health screenings are as vital to good health as eating right and staying active. Just ask Karl White, a Kaiser Permanente employee and member based in Colorado.
“So, I turned 50 years old and one of the things they want you to do is [get] a colonoscopy,” says Karl.
From that first screening, he was diagnosed with a rare form of blood cancer that typically affects men older than 60. After chemotherapy and stem cell transplant therapy, Karl is cancer-free. His oncologist, Dr. Scott Kono, reports that his prognosis is fantastic, saying, “I think he’s got nothing but a positive outlook ahead.”
The routine colonoscopy that led to Karl’s diagnosis is typically recommended for people at low risk for colorectal cancer. But as his experience indicates, these tests can also detect a disease or condition — even before there are symptoms. And catching certain diseases early makes them easier to treat.
Due for a screening?
Talk to your doctor about whether you need specific preventive screenings. There are many preventive care services that can help keep you healthy, including:
- Cholesterol: At least once between the ages of 20 and 39, then every 5 years between the ages of 40 and 80
- Blood pressure: Every 2 years, or at least once a year if you have hypertension
- Type 2 diabetes: Every 3 years if you’re at higher risk (for example, if your blood pressure is consistently higher than 135/80)
- Cervical cancer: When a woman turns 21, then every 3 years after that
- Mammograms: Typically every 1 to 2 years for women 50 to 75 years old
You should also keep track of recommended screenings for children to help keep your entire family healthy. Visit kp.org/prevention to find out which preventive screenings and services you need. You can also watch a video about Karl’s story.
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