Tests To Find Diseases or Conditions Early

"Last year, my doctor told me I had high cholesterol. The doctor said to eat the right foods, lose weight, and exercise. I was worried about having a heart attack, but I didn't know where to begin. So I went back to my doctor and talked with her about a plan for taking better care of myself."

Many diseases and conditions can be prevented or controlled if they are caught early. This section will help you decide what tests you need and how often you need them. You can keep track of the tests with your Checkups and Tests Record ( PDF file , 21 KB, PDF Help ; Text Version ).

High blood pressure can lead to heart disease, stroke, and kidney disease. It is most common in black persons and persons older than 45.

Being active and eating a healthy diet are two ways you can keep your blood pressure under control.

Some people need to take medicine to keep their blood pressure at healthy levels. If you take medicine, be sure to talk to your doctor about how to take it. Do not skip any doses of medicine.

Too much cholesterol can clog your blood vessels and is a major cause of heart disease.

To help lower your cholesterol and keep it at a healthy level, eat the right foods, maintain a healthy weight, and be physically active. Your doctor or nurse may suggest you take medicine to lower your cholesterol.

You are a man 35 or older.
You are a woman 45 or older.
You are a man between the ages of 20 and 35 or a woman between the ages of 20 and 45, and you have other risk factors for heart disease. Other risk factors are tobacco use, diabetes, high blood pressure, or a family history of heart disease.

Most experts recommend checking your cholesterol every 5 years. Your doctor or nurse may suggest you have it checked more often, especially if your cholesterol is too high.

Diabetes, or high blood sugar, is a major cause of blindness, kidney disease, high blood pressure, stroke, heart disease, and amputation of the lower legs and feet. Almost all adults who have diabetes have type 2 diabetes. This type usually appears in middle age. The number of people in the United States who have type 2 diabetes is growing.

Exercise, a healthy diet, and watching your weight can lower your chances of getting type 2 diabetes. If you already have diabetes, those health habits and quitting smoking can help you prevent or control many of the problems of diabetes.

Your risk for type 2 diabetes increases as you get older. In the United States , almost 1 in 5 people between the ages of 65 and 74 has diabetes.

Your risk for type 2 diabetes also is higher than average if:

You may want to be tested for diabetes if you have high blood pressure or high cholesterol. If you have diabetes, you may need to maintain lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels than you would if you did not have diabetes.

Osteoporosis, or thinning bones, makes your bones break easily. This condition is more common in women than in men. After women have gone through menopause, their bodies make less estrogen (a hormone that helps protect their bones). Their bones become more prone to breaking.

Half of all women past menopause will break a bone during their lives. A bone density test can help determine whether your bones are prone to breaking. If they are prone to breaking, your doctor may suggest that you take a medicine to reduce your risk for fractures.

Women who are 65 or older should be tested regularly. You should begin to be tested for osteoporosis at age 60 if you are at increased risk for fractures, for example, if you weigh less than 155 pounds.

You can reduce your risk for osteoporosis by:

Doing weight-bearing exercises, such as walking, climbing stairs, jogging, yoga, and lifting weights.
Getting 1,000 to 1,300 milligrams of calcium every day by eating the right foods . A cup of milk or plain yogurt has 300 milligrams of calcium. You can also take calcium pills with vitamin D if you are not getting enough calcium in the food you eat.
Not smoking.
Taking medicines that can help prevent osteoporosis.

Which Foods Are High in Calcium?

Foods in the milk group, such as milk and dishes made with milk, cheeses, and yogurt. (Choose lower fat, lower cholesterol foods, such as skim milk.)
Canned fish with soft bones, such as sardines, anchovies, and salmon.
Dark-green leafy vegetables, such as kale, mustard greens, turnip greens, and spinach.
Tofu, if it is processed with calcium sulfate. Read the label to find out.
Tortillas, if they are made from lime-processed corn. Read the label to find out.

Tuberculosis (TB) is an infection that affects the lungs and eventually other parts of the body. This infection can be passed from one person to the next. It is treated more easily if caught early.

You are at greater risk for TB and may need a TB test if:

You have been in close contact with someone who has TB.
You have recently moved from Asia , Africa , Central or South America , or the Pacific Islands .
You have kidney failure, diabetes, HIV, or alcoholism.
You have injected or now inject street drugs.

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