The Health Tests You Need at Various Ages
Regular health screenings become
increasingly important as we age. They help catch potential problems
early, when they're easier to treat, and can even prevent some
illnesses. Below we've written a comprehensive guide to the most
recommended physical health tests for U.S. adults in midlife and beyond,
grouped by age. We note which screenings are for everyone and which are
specific to men or women. All recommendations are based on guidelines
from reputable health authorities and are for adults at average risk
(your doctor may adjust these if you have higher risk factors).
In Your 40s (Adults Over 40)
Once you hit 40, it’s important to start baseline screenings and
continue routine check-ups. Many of these tests apply to all adults,
with a few that are women-specific. By your mid-40s, some cancer
screenings also come into play. Key health tests include:
Blood Pressure Screening (All Adults): High
blood pressure often has no symptoms, so have your blood pressure
checked at least once a year. Keeping it under control can prevent heart
disease and stroke. If you have risk factors like diabetes, heart or
kidney issues, or a family history of hypertension, your provider may
check it more often.
Cholesterol Test (All Adults): A blood lipid panel checks your
cholesterol levels, which are linked to heart disease. Many doctors
recommend a baseline test by your 40s (earlier if you have risk
factors). If results are normal, repeat it roughly every 5 years. High
cholesterol has no obvious symptoms, so periodic testing is important to
catch and manage it.
Blood Sugar (Diabetes) Screening (All Adults): Screening for type 2
diabetes typically starts by age 35, especially if you are overweight.
In your 40s, your doctor will likely test your fasting blood glucose or
hemoglobin A1c every 3 years (or more frequently if you have risk
factors). This checks for prediabetes or diabetes, which is important
because early treatment can prevent complications.
Colorectal Cancer Screening (All Adults 45+): By your mid-40s, talk to
your provider about colon cancer screening. New guidelines recommend
starting by age 45 for those at average risk. Screening options include a
colonoscopy (examining the entire colon with a camera) every 10 years,
or less invasive tests like yearly stool tests for hidden blood, among
others. These screenings can detect precancerous polyps or early cancer,
dramatically improving outcomes. If you have a family history or other
risk factors, you might start even earlier.
Breast Cancer Screening (Women): Many experts advise women to begin
mammograms by their early 40s. Mammography can detect breast cancer
early, when it’s most treatable. In fact, women ages 40 to 74 benefit
from routine mammograms. The general recommendation is to start by age
40 and repeat every 1 to 2 years. Your doctor may suggest a different
schedule based on your family history and personal risk factors.
Mammograms can find tumors too small to feel, which is why this
screening is so important.
Cervical Cancer Screening (Women): Women should continue Pap tests
(which detect abnormal cervical cells) in their 40s. Guidelines say
women 21–65 should be screened regularly. For ages 30–65, either get a
Pap smear every 3 years or a combined Pap + HPV test every 5 years.
These tests find early changes that could lead to cervical cancer, so
they can be treated before cancer develops. If you’ve had a hysterectomy
or are over 65 with a history of normal results, you may no longer need
Pap tests – check with your doctor.
Eye Exam (All Adults): Around age 40, get a baseline comprehensive eye
exam. Even if your vision seems fine, an eye doctor can check for signs
of glaucoma, cataracts, and other age-related eye issues. In your 40s,
an exam every 2–4 years is often recommended. If you already wear
glasses or have conditions like diabetes, you may need more frequent
checks.
Dental Check-ups (All Adults): Don’t overlook your teeth and gums.
Dental exams and cleanings once or twice a year are recommended for
adults of all ages. Regular dental care keeps your teeth healthy and can
spot issues like gum disease, which has links to heart health.
Hepatitis C Screening (All Adults): At least once in adulthood, get a
blood test for Hepatitis C – experts recommend a one-time test for
everyone 18 to 79 years old. Hepatitis C can quietly damage the liver
for years, and many baby boomers (born 1945–1965) were unknowingly
exposed. If you haven’t been tested yet, your 40s are a good time to do
it. The test is important because effective treatments can cure
Hepatitis C and prevent liver complications.
HIV Screening (All Adults): Similarly,
experts recommend everyone have an HIV test at least once between ages
15 and 65, just to know your status. Even if you feel low-risk, one-time
screening is a good preventive practice. Your doctor may suggest
additional screenings if you have risk factors or new partners.
Note: Routine screenings like those above generally apply to everyone.
In your 40s, men typically have fewer unique screenings than women, but
this is a great decade to build healthy habits and schedule any baseline
tests you may have missed earlier. For example, men with a family
history of prostate cancer or who are African American should start that
conversation with their doctor now, even though routine prostate
screening usually begins later.
In Your 50s (Adults Over 50)
By age 50, it’s crucial to continue all the screenings from your 40s
(blood pressure, cholesterol, diabetes checks, etc.) and to step up
certain cancer screenings. Your 50s are often when health providers add
some new tests or increase their frequency. Key screenings for this age
group include:
Colorectal Cancer Screening (All Adults): If you haven’t started colon
cancer screening yet, now is the time. All adults through age 75 should
be regularly screened for colorectal cancer. Colonoscopy is the “gold
standard” test (usually done every 10 years if normal), but stool-based
tests (done annually or every few years) and other options are
available. These tests can detect early colon cancer or precancerous
polyps that can be removed to prevent cancer. Continue screening up to
age 75 as long as your results are normal (after 75, you and your doctor
may decide based on your overall health whether to continue).
Breast Cancer Screening (Women): In your
50s, regular mammograms are highly recommended. Women 50 and older
should have a mammogram every 1 to 2 years. This imaging X-ray of the
breasts can find cancers when they’re small and before they spread. Talk
with your provider about the schedule that’s right for you – but many
guidelines endorse mammograms throughout your 50s and 60s. Early
detection greatly improves survival rates.
Prostate Cancer Screening (Men): Men in their 50s should discuss
prostate screening with their doctor. The main test is a blood test for
PSA (prostate-specific antigen). It’s not automatically recommended for
all men, because experts debate whether the benefits outweigh the risks.
The decision to undergo PSA screening should be an individual one made
after talking about pros and cons with a physician, typically for men
age 55 to 69. Factors like family history or race (African American men
have higher risk) can tilt the decision. If you decide to screen, it
typically involves a PSA blood test (often yearly or biennially).
Routine prostate exams via physical rectal exam are no longer done in
men without symptoms.
Lung Cancer Screening (All Adults with Smoking History): If you are a
current or former heavy smoker, your 50s are the time to consider annual
lung cancer screening. A yearly low-dose CT scan of the lungs is
recommended for adults 50 to 80 who have a 20 pack-year or more smoking
history and currently smoke or quit within the last 15 years. This
screening can catch lung cancer early when it’s more treatable. For
example, someone who smoked a pack a day for 20 years has a 20 pack-year
history. If you’re eligible, this test is quick and can be life-saving,
but not needed if you’ve never smoked or only smoked lightly.
Diabetes Screening (All Adults): Continue to have your blood sugar
checked, especially if you have risk factors or a history of
prediabetes. In fact, many cases of type 2 diabetes are diagnosed in
people in their 50s. Following earlier guidance, get screened at least
every 3 years if you’re overweight or have other risk factors. Early
detection of elevated blood sugar allows you to manage it with lifestyle
changes or medication, protecting your heart, kidneys, eyes, and
nerves.
Eye and Hearing Exams (All Adults): Vision and hearing can start to
decline in this decade. It’s wise to increase the frequency of eye exams
to about every 1–2 years in your 50s, since conditions like glaucoma or
macular degeneration become more common. Also, be aware of your hearing
– if you notice any hearing loss (needing the TV louder, difficulty in
conversations), get a hearing test. There isn’t a universal guideline to
screen everyone for hearing loss at this age, but many doctors will
include a basic hearing check as part of a wellness exam if you mention
any symptoms.
Bone Density Discussion (Women in Menopause): While routine bone density
tests (DEXA scans) are formally recommended for women at 65, some women
in their 50s might need earlier screening. If you’ve gone through
menopause and have risk factors for osteoporosis (for example, a slight
build, smoking history, or family history of fractures), talk to your
doctor in your late 50s about whether to get a bone density scan
earlier. This X-ray test measures bone strength and can diagnose
osteopenia or osteoporosis, helping to prevent fractures. Men typically
aren’t screened until later, unless there are special risk factors,
because osteoporosis is less common in men. Men with long-term steroid
use or other risks should ask their doctor about bone health.
Continued Preventive Care (All Adults): Don’t forget to keep up general
health maintenance. Dental exams should remain yearly or twice-yearly to
keep your teeth and gums healthy. Also, continue healthy lifestyle
counseling: at your check-ups, expect your provider to check your
weight/BMI, ask about diet and exercise, and screen for habits like
smoking or alcohol misuse. These aren’t “tests” per se, but they are
important conversations to ensure you’re doing everything you can to
stay healthy in your 50s.
In Your 60s (Adults Over 60)
By age 60 and beyond, preventive health tests become slightly more
tailored. All the screenings from your 50s generally continue (blood
pressure, cholesterol, colon, etc.), and a few new ones come into play
around age 65. This is also the time to discuss when certain screenings
can eventually be stopped. Key tests and screenings for your 60s
include:
medical exam
Blood Pressure & Heart Health (All
Adults): Keep monitoring blood pressure at least annually – high blood
pressure risk increases with age. Also, continue periodic cholesterol
checks (about every 5 years if normal), as cholesterol issues can
persist or worsen. Managing these helps lower the risk of heart attacks
and strokes in your 60s and 70s.
Colorectal Cancer Screening (All Adults up to 75): If you’re between 60
and 75, continue your regular colon cancer screenings. For example, if
you had a colonoscopy at 65 that was normal, you’d do the next by 75.
Routine colorectal screening is recommended through age 75. After 75,
the decision is individualized: some people in their late 70s might
continue screening after discussing with their doctor, based on overall
health and prior findings. By age 86, screening is no longer
recommended. So in your early 60s, the focus is on keeping up with these
tests to catch any late-onset colon issues.
Breast Cancer Screening (Women): Women should keep up mammograms in
their 60s. The standard advice is to get mammograms until at least age
74 (and many guidelines specifically say 50–74 every 1–2 years). If
you’re in good health at 75 and beyond, discuss with your provider
whether to continue. In your 60s, this screening remains very important –
age is a significant risk factor for breast cancer (the majority of
cases occur in women over 50). So, don’t skip those mammograms now. They
can detect cancer early and are proven to reduce mortality.
Cervical Cancer Screening (Women): Most women can stop Pap smears after
age 65, provided they’ve had adequate normal screenings prior and no
history of serious pre-cancer. If you’re 60-64, you should still be
following the Pap/HPV schedule if you haven’t hit 65 yet. But once you
reach 65, if the past 10 years of tests were normal (and no new risk
factors), you can discontinue cervical cancer screening. Always confirm
with your doctor, especially if you had any abnormal results in the past
that might warrant continued testing.
Bone Density Test (Women 65+): At age 65, women should get a bone
density scan to screen for osteoporosis. This DEXA scan will measure
your bone strength, usually at the hip and spine. Osteoporosis (thinning
bones) can lead to fractures, and it’s common after menopause. By
catching low bone density, you and your doctor can take steps (like
calcium, vitamin D, weight-bearing exercise, or medication) to
strengthen bones and prevent breaks. Men in their 60s aren’t routinely
screened, but if you’re a man over 65 with risk factors or a history of
fractures, discuss with your provider whether a bone density test makes
sense for you.
Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Screening (Men
65–75): If you are a man who has ever been a smoker, you should get a
one-time ultrasound of your abdominal aorta at age 65 (sometime between
65 and 75). This ultrasound checks for an aneurysm (an enlarged,
weakened area) in the aorta, the largest artery in the abdomen. An
abdominal aortic aneurysm can be life-threatening if it bursts.
Screening is recommended for male smokers because they are at higher
risk. Men in this age group who never smoked can discuss with their
doctor if screening is needed. Routine AAA screening isn’t recommended
for women in this age range unless advised by a doctor due to special
risk factors, as women have lower risk of these aneurysms.
Hearing and Vision (All Adults): In your 60s, annual eye exams are wise.
Eye conditions like cataracts, glaucoma, and macular degeneration are
more prevalent now, and catching them early can preserve your vision.
Most providers suggest a yearly eye exam at this stage. For hearing,
many people notice age-related hearing loss in their 60s. There’s no
consensus on universal screening for hearing loss without symptoms, but
practically speaking, if you’re over 60 you might consider a baseline
hearing test – or at least have your doctor check your hearing during
routine visits. Definitely get tested if you find yourself struggling to
hear conversations or sounds. Treating hearing loss (for example, with
hearing aids) can greatly improve quality of life and even protect
against cognitive decline.
Immunizations and Other Preventive Steps:
While not “tests,” it’s worth noting that by your 60s, certain vaccines
become important: shingles vaccine (recommended at 50+), and
pneumococcal vaccines (recommended at 65). Make sure to stay on top of
these as part of your preventive care. Additionally, your provider might
assess things like fall risk – for instance, checking your balance or
gait – since preventing falls is crucial in this age group. These
assessments aren’t formal tests but are part of keeping you safe and
healthy.
Ongoing General Health Monitoring: Continue to see your healthcare
provider regularly for annual wellness exams. These visits in your 60s
often include monitoring your weight, checking for any signs of
cognitive changes, reviewing your medications, and ensuring chronic
conditions (like high blood pressure or diabetes) are well controlled.
Preventive services like screenings for depression can also be part of
your visits, but the focus remains on physical health maintenance unless
you have concerns. Regular check-ups help catch any new issues early
and keep you feeling your best.
Conclusion
Staying on top of preventive health tests in your 40s, 50s, and 60s is
one of the best things you can do for your long-term well-being. Many of
these screenings – from blood pressure checks to cancer tests – can
literally save lives by detecting problems early. Remember, guidelines
can evolve, and individual circumstances vary, so use this list as a
starting point and talk with your doctor about a personalized screening
plan. By being proactive with your health in midlife and beyond, you’re
investing in a healthier, more independent future.
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