High blood pressure is a common condition. About one in three adults in the U.S. has high blood pressure, or hypertension. Screening guidelines include: Adults ages 40+ and those with increased risk of high blood pressure should be screened annually. Adults ages 18-39 with normal blood pressure with no other risk factors should be screened every three - five years.

Cervical cancer can often be found early, and sometimes even prevented entirely, by having regular Pap tests. If detected early, cervical cancer is one of the most successfully treatable cancers.

Women should start screening every three years between ages 21 and 29; every five years between ages 30 and 65, which may also include an HPV screening. Women 65 and over may stop screening under certain conditions. Check with your OB/Gyn to find out the best screening timeline for you.

For the early detection of breast cancer, we recommend women undergo a regular screening mammogram beginning at age 40.

Here are our guidelines by age:

• Women ages 40 to 54 should get annual breast cancer screenings with mammograms (3-D x-rays of the breast) every year.
• Women 55 and older should switch to mammograms every two years, or continue yearly screening.

Prostate cancer is one of the most common cancers in men in the U.S. Risk for prostate cancer is determined by many factors, including your health, lifestyle and family history. Generally, screenings should begin at:

• Age 50 for men at average risk of prostate cancer and expected to live at least 10 more years
• Age 45 for men at high risk of developing prostate cancer. This includes African Americans and men who have a first-degree relative (father, brother or son) diagnosed with prostate cancer at an early age (younger than age 65).
• Age 40 for men at even higher risk (those with more than one first-degree relative who had prostate cancer at an early age)

We recommend that men talk with their doctors to make an informed decision about whether to be screened for prostate cancer based on their risk. Men who want to be screened should be tested with the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test. The digital rectal exam (DRE) may also be done as a part of screening.

Colon cancer is the third most commonly diagnosed cancer and the second leading cause of cancer death in men and women in the U.S. Regular screenings should start at the following times:

• If you have a family history, defined as having a first-degree relative with a polyp or a cancer, you should start screening exams 10 years earlier than the age at which that relative was diagnosed.
• African American men and women with no family history should start at age 45
• All others with no family history should begin at age 50

A colonoscopy remains the gold standard in colon cancer screening.

Finding problems early can add years to your life and help you enjoy better health. That’s why The Christ Hospital offers an affordable, non-invasive heart and vascular screening for prevention and early detection. Our heart and vascular screening includes three quick tests that can diagnose abdominal aortic aneurysm, atrial fibrillation (AFib), carotid artery disease and peripheral arterial disease/PAD

Usually symptoms of lung cancer don’t appear until the disease is already at an advanced stage. The good news is, new methods of screening for lung cancer allow doctors to catch it early, when it's still curable. Your doctor may ask you to start having screening tests if you meet the following criteria:

• Age 55-77 years of age and in good health
• Have no signs or symptoms of lung cancer
• Are a current smoker or have quit with in the last 15 years
• Have a tobacco smoking history of at least 30 pack-years
(For example, if you smoked a pack a day for 30 years or two packs a day for 15 years, etc.)

Annual wellness visits (also called check-ups or physicals) are encouraged at all ages and typically include height and weight measurements, blood pressure and pulse readings. Sometimes this also includes a blood test that can identify diabetes, cholesterol and thyroid levels. Your check-up is an opportunity to discuss your current health concerns, your health history and any questions you might have. A skin check is common, if you are at high risk for skin cancer.

We encourage you to be personally aware and perform head-to-toe self skin screenings for moles or freckles and spots on your skin that may be discolored or are new, different or don't heal – even in less obvious areas, such as the scalp and bottom of feet. Melanoma and skin cancer screenings can be performed by your primary care doctor or your dermatologist (skin doctor). Screenings should be performed once a year.