Call: 860-258-3470

Critical Screenings By Age


Screenings Play a Vital Role in Your Health

Primary care physician, Dr. Oosman Tariq, discusses the critical role that health screenings play. While guidelines may change over time, your primary care doctor can ensure you get the necessary screenings at the optimal time based on your age, risk factors, and lifestyle. 

The Importance of Seeing a Primary Care Doctor

A lot of times we encounter patients who are a little reluctant to come to the doctor. I would like to stress the importance of visiting a doctor – not just when you are sick, but in order to stay healthy.

We have guidelines emphasizing the risk to the various populations; you don’t have to be sick to come to a doctor. A doctor can actually determine, based on your current physical examination, laboratory tests, and your family history, the risk of certain conditions which you might be predisposed to in the future.

How Screening Guidelines Are Determined

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) is an independent, volunteer group of national experts in prevention and evidence-based medicine that makes recommendations about clinical preventive services such as screening tests, counseling services, and preventive medications.

This task force has created guidelines starting with kids as young as 6 and adults up to 80 years of age. These guidelines basically help us catch patients at earlier stages of diseases or illnesses which might become more difficult to treat later in disease progression.

Current Guidelines

Young children: screening for obesity in children as young as six years

Teenagers, 12 to 18: screening for depression and obesity

General population, 18 years and over: hypertension

Females over 21:

Females 40-55:

Females over 65:

 Patients 40 to 70 years:

Patients 50+:

Smokers:

Where to Learn More

Click the link below to learn more about current recommendations. Keep in mind that your individual health and risk factors play a large role in the timing of which health screenings are right for you. Your primary care provider is your partner in care and can guide you.

https://www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/uspstf/recommendation-topics

Schedule a Visit Today

Primary care providers focus on the totality of your health. It is important to schedule regular visits so your primary care doctor can help you stay on track with your screenings and manage your health risk.