Knowing when to screen … and when to quit

Follow me on Twitter @RobShmerling Let us sing the praises of good medical screening tests. These are the tests that can detect medical problems before they become untreatable and before they cause complications or even death. Even better are those screening tests that detect “predisease” — abnormalities that aren’t dangerous on their own but can lead to problems later. According to the US Preventive Services Task Force, relatively few screening tests are considered good enough to routinely recommend for adults, including mammography for breast cancer (women) Pap smear for cervical cancer (women) bone density testing for osteoporosis — every 2 to 4 years if at least age 65 (women) colonoscopy — starting at age 50 and repeating every 10 years until age 75. And blood tests for: hepatitis C for all adults born between 1945 and 1965 HIV for adolescents and adults ages 15 to 65 years and all pregnant women lipid screening for all adolescents and adults ages 15 to 65 years. Many of these tests are recommended in younger adults or if risk factors for disease are present. For example, screening tests for osteoporosis may be recommended for a woman younger than age 65 if she takes medications (such as corticosteroids) linked to osteoporosis. Other tests are offered for more select groups. For example, there are recommendations to test the urine of women for infection during early pregnancy and to screen adults for diabetes if they are overweight or obese. When to stop?...
Source: Harvard Health Blog - Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Tags: Cancer Health Prevention Screening Source Type: blogs