Managing your personal health seems like a simple enough task: keep a close eye on any symptoms or changes in your health and wellness, and report them to your doctor when needed.
But managing health is actually a lot more complex than that. Many serious, chronic problems don’t cause any symptoms in their early stages, or the symptoms they cause are so subtle that they’re easily overlooked or attributed to something else, like aging or poor sleep habits.
Fortunately, health screenings help identify these problems even before they become noticeable to you. In this post, the primary care team at Harbor Community Health Centers reviews 12 screenings you should consider this year to stay on top of your health and keep your wellness plan optimized for your changing needs and risk factors.
Blood pressure is just what it sounds like: the pressure your blood exerts on the walls of your blood vessels as it travels through your body. When that pressure is higher (or lower) than normal, it affects blood flow to your organs and increases your risk of serious medical issues, including heart disease and stroke.
Since most blood pressure problems cause few or no symptoms of their own, having regular blood pressure screenings is one of the best ways to “catch” problems early, so you can take steps to prevent those issues.
Cholesterol is a waxy substance that plays a key role in many critical body functions — but if you have too much cholesterol in your blood, it can wind up blocking normal blood flow. Like high blood pressure, high cholesterol levels increase your risk of stroke and heart attack. A simple blood test is all it takes to ensure your levels remain within an optimal range.
Roughly 40 million Americans have diabetes, which means they’re also at increased risk of kidney problems, vision loss, nerve damage, and cardiovascular disease. Having your glucose (blood sugar) levels tested on a regular basis helps you understand your risk of diabetes — and if you already have diabetes or prediabetes, regular screenings are essential for preventing complications.
A mammogram is a diagnostic imaging test that provides a detailed view of your breast tissue, helping doctors spot early signs of breast cancer as well as other abnormalities that need to be monitored. Medical guidelines recommend that women have a mammogram every year or every other year, depending on their risk factors.
Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer among Americans, with nearly 10,000 cases diagnosed every day. An annual full-body screening is essential for diagnosing cancers in their earliest stages, especially when combined with the monthly checks you perform yourself.
More than 20 million people are diagnosed with STDs every year in the U.S., placing them at greater risk for long-term complications. STD screening is simple, fast, and discreet, providing you with the information you need to treat infections, prevent complications, and improve your peace of mind, too.
While the screenings listed above are generally recommended on an annual basis, they’re certainly not the only screenings you should consider. Depending on how recently you’ve had them and other risk factors, you may also need to schedule a colorectal cancer screening, cervical cancer screening, prostate screening, or hearing or vision tests to ensure you’re receiving the care you need to stay healthy at every age and every stage of life.
Not sure which screenings you need? Our team can help by making recommendations based on your health history, personal risk factors, and guidelines established by major medical organizations. To learn which screenings can benefit you, call 310-547-0202 to schedule an appointment with the Harbor Community Health Centers team at one of our two San Pedro, California, locations today.
