A Guide to Predicting Your Medical Future
Mammograms: Mammograms are often recommended for women every one or two years after 40; by 50, they're an even better idea. Women with family histories should get a mammogram every year. In early 2007 the American Cancer Society recommended annual MRIs for those at high risk, too. (Not all docs agree with this policy.) Finally, women with family histories of either breast or ovarian cancer should get their BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes checked for mutations linked to both diseases.
Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry: You won't need the DXA osteoporosis screen until 65, unless you have risk factors such as family history and low body weight. Women who don't use hormone therapy are also at higher risk. If you fit these descriptions, it's not a bad idea to get screened early.
MEN
PSA screening: The jury is out on whether all men over 50 should get this test for prostate cancer, which measures blood levels of prostate-specific antigen, a protein (see page 69). It's often used along with the digital rectal exam. Trials have been unable to find solid evidence for or against prostate-cancer screening. Part of the problem is that the disease isn't necessarily deadly. "It's often very slow-growing, and we're not sure how much benefit you gain from finding it early," says King. "A lot of men die of heart disease long before prostate cancer gets them." Widespread screening can result in false positives and unnecessary biopsies. Bottom line: consult your doctor and make up your own mind.
EVERYONE
Colonoscopy: It's rare for the USPSTF to give a grade-A recommendation to a screen aimed at the general population. But colon cancer gets one: the agency "strongly recommends" screening for those over 50. There are four good methods. Colonoscopy, which makes use of a long, thin tube with a camera attached, may be the best known. Have your first one at 50 and another at 60. If you have a history of certain kinds of polyps or a family history of colon cancer, your doc may recommend more-frequent testing.
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Member Comments
Posted By: Bullsfan @ 01/30/2008 10:09:19 AM
Comment: Oh, and let's put eating disorders vs obesity into perspective. Roughly 7 million people have eating disorders in the US. In contrast, 25% of AMericans are obese. That's 75 MILLION people. Which do YOU think is the bigger heath risk.?
Posted By: njdocisin @ 01/27/2008 3:59:47 AM
Comment: The article also left out skin cancer screenings. People 20-40 should have a clinical skin exam at least every 3 years, people 40+ should have one annually, and all people over the age of 20 should be doing montly self-exams. Kind of a big oversight IMO.
Posted By: Ivhie @ 01/21/2008 7:52:51 PM
Comment: Coronary heart/artery disease is not ONLY a genetic disease. It is a well-known fact that many things can contribute to the health of your blood vessels and heart. Coronary artery disease comes about when plaque forms and builds on the arteries. Although people with genetic predisposition can often build the plaque more quickly, genes are not the only factor. Diet, exercise, and a whole host of other factors also play a role. I'm not sure why hamidbak is so sure that CAD and gum disease are not related, but researchers (yes many researchers, and yes they did medical research studies) have found that people with periodontal disease are almost two times as likely to suffer from coronary artery disease as those without periodontal disease. Whether it is a direct cause-and-effect is not certain, but I think that results like that would make me want to brush my teeth and get my cavities taken care of. How about you?