Health Screenings You Shouldn't Skip After 50, According to Doctors

Most of the health problems that show up after 50 start quietly. That's why doctors say the best time to look for them is before anything feels wrong.

Turning 50 represents a new chapter, and it's also a good time to pay closer attention to your health. In the U.S., roughly 124 million Americans are in that age group or older, and doctors say prevention is better than waiting for symptoms to show up.

Begin by searching for a primary care doctor you can trust if you don't have one yet. Dr. Asia Gobourne, a primary care physician at NewYork-Presbyterian and Weill Cornell Medicine, describes this doctor as the one who manages your existing conditions and works to prevent new ones. At a yearly visit, the doctor checks your vital signs, runs bloodwork, and reviews your medical history and your relatives' health to decide which tests you need.

Because every person's risks vary, scheduling of tests will depend on your risk factors. Dr. Douglas Spotts, a family physician and board member of the American Academy of Family Physicians, says annual checkups matter even more after 50 for this reason. For instance, if you have a relative with colorectal or breast cancer, you may need to be screened sooner than usual.

Gobourne also highlights two vaccines for this age group. One is the pneumococcal shot to guard against pneumonia and, in severe cases, meningitis. The second is the shingles vaccine, which comes in two doses spaced two to six months apart, to prevent the painful rash that becomes more common after 50.

To be proactive about cancer, it is advised to start colorectal screening at 45. If results are normal, the next test can be done after 10 years, though polyps or other risk factors may shorten that interval. G

obourne notes that colorectal cancer rates are rising, especially among younger people. Spotts adds that at-home stool tests may be an option for some people.

Mammograms are typically recommended from age 40 onward. How often depends on the guidelines your doctor follows. After 75, the decision generally depends on your overall health and personal preference.

For adults between 50 and 80 with a history of heavy smoking, whether still smoking or quit within the last 15 years, a yearly low-dose CT scan for lung cancer is recommended. Meanwhile, men at average risk can start discussing prostate screening with their doctor at around age 50.

Heart disease is the country's leading cause of death, so Gobourne says cholesterol checks become more important with age. Women should also begin bone density scans at 65, or earlier with a past fracture or a family history of osteoporosis. Eye exams can detect glaucoma and cataracts before vision changes.

There are no routine tests to check cognitive decline, but Gobourne says it's worth mentioning any memory problems or a family history of dementia to your doctor. Dr. Susan Loeb-Zeitlin, an OB-GYN who directs the Women's Midlife Center at Weill Cornell Medicine, says mood changes, especially during menopause, should be evaluated rather than dismissed as normal aging. (Source: PEOPLE)