The Medical Tests You Need by Your 55th Birthday

WRITTEN BY LAURA ROE STEVENS

You may be in peak physical fitness and feel great. Many people in their 50s are—especially when living in a Blue Zone community where health, wellness and activity are prioritized. With that said, medical tests can save your life down the road. That’s why getting an annual physical exam is critical to maintaining well-being as you age.

Why? Your physician will require certain medical tests to screen for disease, chronic illness and health conditions, says Mona Madani, MD, a family care physician with Torrance Memorial Physician Network. “Knowledge is power. Once a person realizes they have high blood pressure, anemia or a risk for osteoporosis or heart disease, they can take preventive steps to thwart the development or worsening of disease and potentially avoid a stroke or heart attack.”

Here are the top medical tests to take by age 55:

Your annual physical will include a blood pressure check. Elevated blood pressure is a serious medical condition that increases the risks of heart, brain, kidney and other diseases. Hardening and thickening of the arteries due to high blood pressure can lead to a heart attack or stroke. If you have hypertension, other tests such as an ultrasound and echocardiogram can be conducted by a specialist.

Your annual physical includes a full blood panel test which monitors glucose levels, among other factors. This will determine if you have or are at risk for diabetes. One in 10 Americans have diabetes, and 96 million are prediabetic, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). With type 2 diabetes, your body doesn’t use insulin well.

With prediabetes, your body may not fully use the insulin you make or may not make enough insulin to keep blood sugar levels healthy. Both conditions may be modified or turned around with diet and lifestyle changes.

Women need annual mammograms for breast cancer detection after age 40, says Dr. Madani. According to the American College of Radiology and the Society of Breast Imaging, annual mammograms are recommended until age 55, shifting to every other year afterward, unless a genetic predisposition or family history requires continued annual screenings.

OB-GYNs conduct cervical cancer screenings via pap smears every three to five years through age 65. If a risk for cervical cancer is evident, pap smears can be conducted more often.

All adults ages 45–75 need to test for colorectal cancer every 10 years. (In the recent past, physicians recommended testing starting at age 50, but it is now prudent to start at 45, says Dr. Madani.) The typical test is a colonoscopy, but some opt for at-home fecal tests or noninvasive CT scans. (If there is a positive result with either of these, a colonoscopy will be required.)

Men need to screen for prostate cancer beginning at age 45. This requires a rectal exam and a blood test called a Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) test that measures the level of PSA in the blood. PSA levels can be higher in men who have prostate cancer. The PSA level may be elevated in other conditions that affect the prostate as well.

A DEXA bone scan can be done as early as age 50 if osteoporosis runs in your family, or you’ve experienced unintentional bone fractures. Otherwise, Dr. Madani advises annual bone density screening for post-menopausal women between the ages of 60–65.

It’s important to be up to date on all immunizations, says Dr. Madani. Here’s what you need to know:

• Shingles vaccine is recommended after age 50 if you had chicken pox.

• Pneumonia vaccine starts at age 65 unless you have underlying conditions.

• Influenza vaccine is needed annually.

• Tetanus (TDAP) vaccine is recommended every 10 years.

• Keep up with COVID-19 booster shots as recommended.

There is no need to schedule individual tests with specialists, says Dr. Madani. Your first step is to schedule an annual physical exam. From there, all other tests can be ordered if necessary. Another perk to an annual physical is it gives you time to talk with your physician about any health concerns, such as weight gain or loss, joint pain, headaches, digestive issues, mood fluctuations or depression.

“I love to counsel my patients and help them focus on preventive care. Whatever we can do first can make a big difference,” says Dr. Madani.

For instance, if patients are at risk for anemia and osteoporosis, she will counsel them on diet and exercise modifications. If arthritis and joint issues are causing weight gain, she may refer them to physical therapy or suggest yoga or swimming. “Your physical exam is an opportunity to explore preventive self-care with your physician, who wants to help bolster your health at every age,” she says.