At Passport Advantage, we know that it is very important for you to try to be healthy! If you try some of these tips, you may be able to prevent a disease. On this page, you can learn more about preventive health for specific topics, including:
Visit Your Provider!
Healthy adults between the ages of 21 and 65 should visit a primary care provider every one to three years. After age 65, adults should see a provider every year.
When you go to your provider, talk to him or her about any risk factors that you might have. Preventive health care can help keep you healthy and lower risk factors.
Tests (Screenings)
These tests (or “screenings”) can help you stay as healthy as possible:
- Medical history and physical exam.
- Height and weight measurements, including check for obesity.
- Hearing and vision tests.
- Blood pressure check.
- Blood cholesterol levels (men age 35 and older; women age 45 and older).
- Colon cancer check (test for hidden blood in the stool or sigmoidoscopy for age 50 and older).
- Mammogram (X-ray to screen for breast cancer) every 1 to 2 years for women age 40 and older with or without breast exam by health care provider.
- Pap smear (cervical cancer screening test) every year. After three or more normal screenings, your provider may recommend less frequent testing.
- Chlamydia screening (a test for a sexually transmitted disease) for all sexually active and pregnant women age 25 and younger or at high risk. Women should be retested after treatment for this disease.
- Bone density scan (test for osteoporosis or thinning of the bones) for all women age 65 and older.
- Signs of problem drinking, family violence and depression.
Immunizations (Shots)
Make sure you get shots over the years so you will not get certain diseases. You may need some of the following shots:
- Flu shot every year if you are age 50 or older, or if you have a chronic illness.
- Pneumonia shot once for people age 65 and older; earlier for persons with a chronic illness. Some people may need a booster after six years.
- Tetanus/diptheria shot every 10 years.
- Measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) shot, one or two doses, for adults up to age 50. If you are a woman of childbearing years, you should talk to your provider about the right time to receive this shot.
- Hepatitis A and hepatitis B shots are given to protect high-risk adults from these liver diseases. Ask your provider if you should receive one or both of them.
- Varicella (chicken pox) shot once for adults who have not had chicken pox.
Counseling
Sometimes, you cannot get healthy on your own. There are a lot of counseling programs and people who can help you. Some are free. If you need help in any of the following areas, counseling may help:
- Quitting smoking
- Avoiding alcohol and/or drugs
- Good nutrition
- The importance of safety belts
- Wearing motorcycle, bicycle, skateboard helmets
- Smoke detectors
- Fall prevention
- Safe water heater temperatures
- Sexually transmitted disease prevention
- Unintended pregnancy or birth control
- Regular dental visits or dental care
- Safe storage or removal of firearms
- Physical activity and fitness
Other Resources
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