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Summary
Regular health exams and tests can help find problems before they start. They also can help find problems early, when your chances for treatment and cure are better. Which exams and screenings you need depends on your age, health and family history, and lifestyle choices such as what you eat, how active you are, and whether you smoke.
To make the most of your next check-up, here are some things to do before you go:
- Review your family medical history
- Find out if you are due for any general screenings or vaccinations
- Write down a list of issues and questions to take with you
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Related Issues
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How to Understand Your Lab Results
(National Library of Medicine) Also in Spanish
- Recommended Adult Immunization Schedule for ages 19 years or older, United States, 2019 (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
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Talking With Your Doctor: MedlinePlus Health Topic
(National Library of Medicine) Also in Spanish
Specifics
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Pulse Oximetry
(National Library of Medicine) Also in Spanish
Health Check Tools
- Question Builder: Be Prepared for Your Next Medical Appointment (Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality)
Journal Articles References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)
Find an Expert
- Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Also in Spanish
- HRSA: Find a Health Center (Health Resources and Services Administration)
- KidsHealth (Nemours Foundation)
Children
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Baby Health Checkup: MedlinePlus Health Topic
(National Library of Medicine) Also in Spanish
- Your Child's Checkups (Nemours Foundation)
Teenagers
- Medical Care and Your 13- to 18-Year-Old (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish
Women
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Women's Health Checkup: MedlinePlus Health Topic
(National Library of Medicine) Also in Spanish
Older Adults
- Preventive Visit and Yearly Wellness Exams (Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services) Also in Spanish
Patient Handouts
- Health screening - men - age 18 - 39 (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
- Health screening - men - over 65 (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
- Health screenings for men ages 40 to 64 (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
- Physical exam frequency (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
- Well-child visits (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish