Table
Of Contents
What
You Can Do To Stay Healthy
Checkups,
Tests, and Shots You Need To Ask Your Doctor
About
Personal
Prevention Charts
More
Information
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Introduction
About
This Guide
This guide describes ways
that people aged 50 and older can stay healthy. It gives information on:
-
Living habits that have
been proven to help prevent certain diseases and conditions.
-
Screening tests to catch
conditions or diseases early, when they can be treated more easily.
-
Immunizations (shots) that
have been proven to be effective in preventing diseases.
To order print copies of
this guide, call the Publications Clearinghouse at 1-800-358-9295.
The recommendations
in this guide are based on research reviewed by the U.S. Preventive Services
Task Force, a panel of private sector health experts convened by the Agency
for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ, formerly the Agency for Health
Care Policy and Research).
How
This Guide Is Organized
This guide:
-
Explains why adopting certain
healthy habits, such as eating right, can help you. It also explains why
you should get certain screening tests or checkups.
-
Suggests how you can improve
your health habits. It also recommends how often you need certain screening
tests, checkups, or shots.
-
Presents questions to ask
your doctor.
-
Provides charts for keeping
track of your health care.
-
Lists organizations that
give more health information.
How
To Take Part in Staying Healthy
This booklet will help
guide you in working with your doctor, nurse, or other health professional
to stay healthy. It gives you guidelines for how often you may need a specific
screening test or exam. But because people have different needs, you need
to work with your doctor to discuss which screening tests and shots are
right for you and when you need them. That is why many sections in this
booklet suggest you ask your doctor questions. For example, women aged
50 and older should have a mammogram every 1-2 years. But if your mother
or sister had breast cancer, you may need a mammogram more often.
In addition to asking
your doctor when you need a certain test, you should ask such questions
as:
-
Why do I need this test?
-
How will I benefit from
this test?
-
Should I have the test
done again? If so, why and when?
Side Bar
Some, but not all,
of the information in this guide will be new to you.
For example, you probably
know you should not smoke. You also probably know you should be physically
active. But many people like to be reminded to do the right thing, and
you may be surprised to learn about diseases that could be prevented if
you adopt these behaviors.
How
To Use This Guide
You can use this guide
to:
-
Learn what you can do to
stay healthy.
-
Find out which screening
tests you need and how often you need them. Ask why a test is needed and
how it can help you.
-
Get ideas for questions
to discuss with your doctor or other health professional.
-
Keep track of your health
care by using the personal prevention charts at the end of this booklet.
You may want to bring this booklet with you every time you see a doctor
or other health professional and fill it out before you leave the doctor's
office.
Learn about other places
to find health information.
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