Preventive Health Screenings You Shouldn't Miss

When your car starts making a strange noise, you take it into the shop as soon as you can. You know that replacing a worn out belt is a lot cheaper than waiting until something breaks. Why aren’t we the same way with our health? Preventive care reduces your risk for serious illness by either catching and treating something early in its development or by keeping it from happening in the first place. 

No one likes going to the doctor. We know. It doesn’t hurt our feelings, but we wish you would come see us before something bad happens! The squeaky wheel gets the grease, but if you’re doing regular maintenance like you should be doing, it won’t squeak in the first place. Don’t put off preventive care. 

Young people avoid preventive care. People at every age need certain screenings to ensure their future health. 

Children: Birth to 14 Years Old

Vaccines are one of the most effective forms of preventive medicine. Polio, tetanus, and diphtheria are all deadly diseases almost unheard of today thanks to lifesaving vaccines. The MMR vaccine (measles, mumps, and rubella) eradicated these highly contagious and dangerous diseases, but they are returning in pockets where vaccination rates are low. 

Vaccinations are so effective that they’ve kind of become a victim of their own success. Because we no longer have to deal with the pain of losing someone to one of these diseases, we lose sight of how important, safe, and effective vaccinations are. We are seeing the consequences of this attitude: in 2025, a Texas community with low vaccination rates saw two children die and 762 hospitalized because of measles, a tragedy that is entirely preventable. So don’t skip these important vaccinations. 

• Hepatitis B: Doses at birth, 1-2 months, and 9-15 months
• Rotavirus: Doses at 2 and 4 months
• Diphtheria, tetanus, and acellular pertussis: Doses at 2, 4, and 12 months
• Measles, mumps, and rubella: 12-15 months
• Flu and COVID-19 vaccine: every year beginning at 6 months
• Chickenpox: Doses at 12-15 months and 4-6 years.

For a more comprehensive list, see this page on the website of the Centers for Disease Control.

Youth: 15-24 Years Old

Research shows that accidents and suicide are the leading causes of death among adolescents, so in addition to continuing immunization schedules, people in this age range (and their parents in the case of minors) should focus on the following preventive measures:

• Diet and exercise
• Vision, hearing, and growth
• Screening for sexually transmitted infections (STIs)
• Counseling for alcohol, tobacco, and drug use, screen time, sexual activity, and mental health
• Other safety-related interventions (safe driving, bicycle helmet use, etc.)

Adults: 25-64 Years Old

Just like the later years of youth, the early years of adulthood are a crucial time for your health. According to the US Census Bureau, adults aged 19-34 are the least likely to be insured, with adults aged 26 and 27 specifically having the highest uninsured rates. Uninsured Americans are less likely to seek out medical care except in the case of emergencies. This is also an age where you may be using more alcohol and tobacco and eating less healthy food. 

While younger adults are more healthy in general, the things you do at this age can have consequences when you’re older, so it’s important to receive the kind of preventive care that will set you up for a healthy future. Some preventive measures you should seek out at this age include:

• Hepatitis C blood test
• Screening for STIs
• A type 2 diabetes screening in the form of a hemoglobin A1c test to measure blood sugar levels
• Cervical cancer screening: every three years beginning at age 21
• Mental health counseling

That last bullet point is too often overlooked by even healthy young adults. Preventive mental health care can help you deal with the stressors of becoming an adult, living on your own, working, and maintaining healthy relationships during a time of change.

In your 40s, you should begin regular cancer screenings. These screenings include:

• Annual lung cancer screening for smokers or those who have quit smoking. 
• Mammograms: annually beginning at age 40
• Prostate exams: every three to five years beginning at age 45

As you reach your 50s, consider taking the shingles vaccine, especially if you had chickenpox as a child. Adults who have had chickenpox are at risk of developing shingles.

Older Adults: 65+ Years Old

For older adults, heart disease and osteoporosis are ongoing concerns. Your doctor will recommend how often you should be screened based on your circumstances and family history. In addition to the regular screenings recommended for adults under 65, here are the important preventive screenings and interventions older patients should seek out:

• Flu and COVID-19 vaccines
• Abdominal aortic aneurysm ultrasound screening, especially for smokers
• Skin cancer screening
• Blood pressure
• Blood sugar
• Cholesterol
• Diet and exercise
• Vision and hearing
• Fall prevention
• Mental health counseling

Contact Us For More Information

This isn’t a comprehensive list of every health screening you’ll need at every age, just an overview of the more important ones. Every patient is different, and your particular life story will affect which screenings are more important (for example, patients with a family history of cancer or diabetes). No matter where you are in your journey, we have preventive care experts ready to equip you with everything you need to live a healthy life.