9 Preventative Health Screenings You Should Know
The road to better health starts by understanding your personal health risks. Prevent disease, gain peace of mind and enhance your overall well-being with these nine key preventive screenings, all of which can be performed at Grand View Health.
To help you protect your health, Grand View Health’s Quality Outreach Team sends proactive reminders to current patients about mammograms, colonoscopies and other important screenings.
1. Mammogram
What it is: A mammogram is an X-ray picture of the breast. It can find breast cancer in its earliest, most treatable stages.
Who should get one: According to American Cancer Society (ACS) guidelines, women between ages 40 to 55 have the option to get a mammogram every year. Women ages 45–54 should get one every year. Women ages 55 and over can switch to a mammogram every other year or continue yearly mammograms. If you have a family history of breast cancer, you may need to start screening mammograms earlier.
Do I need a doctor’s order? Yes
Where to get yours: We offer seven convenient locations. Call 215-453-4100 to schedule. Portal users can schedule screening mammograms online at mygvh.org.
Be sure to check with your health insurance provider to verify coverage.
2. Cholesterol Screening
What it is: A fasting blood test to check your levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL, or “bad” cholesterol), high-density lipoprotein (HDL, or “good” cholesterol) and triglycerides. High triglycerides, high LDL or low HDL can increase your risk of heart attack or stroke.
Who should get one: According to guidelines from the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, men ages 45 to 65 and women ages 55 to 65 should get screened every one-to-two years. Anyone age 65 and older should get screened annually.
Need a doctor’s order? You’ll need a doctor’s order for the lab test.
Where to get yours: Ask your Primary Care provider during your annual physical.
3. Blood Pressure Screening
What it is: A test that measures the pressure in your arteries as your heart pumps. It’s performed with an inflatable cuff around your arm.
Who should get one: According to guidelines from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, anyone ages 18 and older with optimal blood pressure and no heart disease risk should get screened once every three-to-five years. Anyone ages 40 and older should get screened every year.
Do I need a doctor’s order? No
Where to get yours: Ask your Primary Care provider during your annual physical.
4. Colonoscopy
What it is: A test that both diagnoses and treats colorectal cancer. Colonoscopies examine the inside of your colon and rectum for polyps and other signs of colorectal cancer.
Who should get one: According to ACS guidelines, starting at age 45, everyone should get a colonoscopy. People at average risk for colorectal cancer should get a colonoscopy once every 10 years. People at higher risk will need a colonoscopy at a younger age and possibly more frequently. Follow your doctor’s guidance.
Do I need a doctor’s order? Yes
Where to get yours: Your primary care provider can give you information about where and how to schedule your colonoscopy or how to get an at-home test kit.
5. PSA Test
What it is: A blood test to measure for prostate-specific antigen (PSA), which can be higher in men with prostate cancer.
Who should get one: According to ACS guidelines, men ages 50 or over (or men 45 and older with high risk for prostate cancer) should discuss screening recommendations with their provider so they can make the most informed decision possible.
Do I need a doctor’s order? Yes
Where to get one: Ask your Primary Care provider during your annual physical.
6. Pap Test and HPV Test
What it is: During a pap test and HPV test, cells are removed from the cervix and examined for signs of cervical cancer and human papilloma virus (HPV), which increases the risk for cervical cancer.
Who should get one: According to guidelines from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, women ages 21 to 29 should get a pap test every three years. Women ages 30 to 65 can get a pap test alone every three years or a pap test and an HPV test every five years.
Do I need a doctor’s order? No
Where to get yours: Women should see their OB/GYN annually. Pap tests and HPV tests are part of those annual checkups.
7. Lung Cancer Screening
What it is: A lung cancer screening is a low-dose CT scan. It looks for spots on the lungs called nodules that X-rays can’t see.
Who should get one: According to American Cancer Society (ACS) guidelines, anyone between ages 50 and 80 who formerly or currently smoked and has a 20-year or greater “pack-year” history. A “pack-year” is the number of cigarettes smoked per day, multiplied by the number of years smoked.
Need a doctor’s order? Yes
Where to get one: Grand View Hospital or Harleysville Outpatient Center.
8. Bone Density Test
What it is: A DEXA scan is a special type of X-ray test that measures the thickness and strength of your bones.
Who should get one: According to guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, women ages 65 and older and women ages 50 to 64 with certain risk factors, such as having a parent with a broken hip. You should have no more than one DEXA scan every two years. Follow your doctor’s advice on testing frequency.
Do I need a doctor’s order? Yes
Where to get yours: Grand View Hospital or any of our Testing & Imaging Centers.
9. Coronary Calcium Scan (CAC Test)
What it is: A CT scan of your heart’s arteries that looks for calcium deposits, which are a risk factor for a heart attack.
Who should get one: The decision to get a coronary calcium scan should be made in conjunction with your healthcare provider. According to the American Heart Association, CAC testing may be useful for people ages 40 – 55 with an estimated 10-year risk for developing heart disease, and men ages 55 – 80 or women ages 60 – 80 with few risk factors who wonder if statin therapy could help them.
Do I need a doctor’s order? Yes. Ask for one from a provider with Grand View Health Cardiology.
Where to get one: Grand View Hospital.
Has your primary care clinician recommended that you have one of these tests?
If so, call 215-453-4100 to make your appointment.
We have six convenient Testing & Imaging locations in Bucks and Montgomery Counties: Dublin, Harleysville, Lansdale, Pennsburg, Quakertown and Sellersville. Learn more at GVH.org/Locations.