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Preventative Recommendations

The chart below shows preventive recommendations for adults based on age. Your lifestyle, family history or other factors may increase your risk for a condition. Talk with your doctor about whether a preventive service is right for you.

Age in Years > 18-39 40-64 65+
Cholesterol check Every 5 years Every 5 years Every 5 years
Tetanus-diphtheria
(Td) booster
Every 10 years Every 10 years Every 10 years 
Influenza Vaccine
(Flu Shot)
Every year if at high risk  Every year if at high risk Every year if at high risk 
Pneumococcal
Vaccine
Once if at high risk  Once if at high risk Once at age 65
Hepatitis B
Vaccine
If not done previously  --  --

Clinical breast
examination

Women: Every 3 years beginning at age 20 Women: Every year Women: Every year to age 75 
Mammogram -- Women: Every year Women: Every year to age 75
Cervical cancer
screenings (Pap)
Women: At least every 3 years Women: At least every 3 years Women: At least every 3 years

Colon cancer
screenings

-- Annually at age 50 Every 5 years until age 80
Prostate exam -- Men: Annually at age 50 Men: Annually
Blood pressure At least every 2 years At least every 2 years  At least every 2 years 
Diabetes If at risk of heart disease If at risk of heart disease  If at risk of heart disease
Osteoporosis -- -- Women: At least once every two years

Adapted from: Adult Preventive Care Timeline. AHRQ Publication No. APPIP06-IP001, June 2006. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Rockville, MD. http://www.ahrq.gov/ppip/timelinead.htm