A Guide to Predicting Your Medical Future
65 Years & Older
Your risk of many diseases is higher, but you may not need as many tests as before.
WOMEN
Mammogram: Breast-cancer risk increases each year after 65, but many doctors tell women to stop getting annual mammograms between age 70 and 85. The reason is simple, if a bit grim: it may be easier to live with breast cancer in old age than to treat it. Chemotherapy and surgery are hard on the body, and there's no good evidence that screening extends life expectancy at this age. One group, however, may be better off not stopping. A study last year suggested that breast-cancer survivors older than 65 can substantially cut their risk of dying of the disease by having a mammogram each year.
DXA: The gold standard for osteoporosis screening, this test measures bone density at the spine, hip or forearm. All women should be checked at 65. If their results look good, they can wait at least two years before their next DXA.
Pap smear: Women should have been getting it every year since 18. Now they may finally get to stop. "If you have a normal Pap smear at 65," says King, "you probably won't ever need another one."
TSH blood test: The USPSTF says there's not enough evidence for widespread screening, but not all docs agree. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists says women over 65 should get a thyroid-stimulating-hormone check every three to five years.
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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?