Why are health exams and immunizations important?
To help prevent disease and detect problems at an early stage, it is important to have periodic health exams and receive proper immunization. Your health care provider can also provide counseling about risk factors for disease.
What happens during a health exam?
During a health exam, your provider will take your medical history, height, weight, and blood pressure. Your provider may want to conduct further tests and screening, depending on your general health, your medical history, and your family's health. Your provider may also ask about your sleep patterns, diet, exercise routine, sexual activity, contraception, occupation, and use of alcohol, tobacco, and drugs.
To prevent many physical problems, your provider will recommend that you follow good health habits, such as those listed below:
- Do not smoke.
- Exercise regularly (at least 15 to 20 minutes of an activity that makes your heart beat faster, at least 2-3 times per week).
- Get adequate rest and learn ways to cope with stress.
- Reach and maintain your ideal weight.
- Eat nutritious foods.
- If you drink alcohol, drink only in moderation (no more than 1 or 2 glasses of wine or beer per day).
These good health habits can also improve your chances of surviving serious disease that cannot be prevented by routine health care.
Which screening and exams are recommended?
Women aged 18 to 64 should have a health exam every 1 to 2 years. Men should have a health exam every 2 to 3 years. The content and frequency of these visits depend on age, sex, medical history, general health, and risk factors for preventable diseases. Sexually active women should have an annual GYN exam. This is discussed in greater detail in the Women's Health Information.
Routine Screening:
The screening discussed below is recommended for everyone, regardless of medical history or risk factors. People who have symptoms of diseases and those who are in high-risk groups need additional screening.
People aged 19 to 39 should receive the following screening:
- Pap test for women (annually, beginning at age 18 or within six months of first sexual intercourse)
- Dental exams (every 12 months), not available through Duke Student Health Services
Required immunizations and booster shots after childhood
- Individuals born after 1956 and immunized against measles at 15 months of age or older should receive a second measles immunization, usually with MMR (measles-mumps-rubella) vaccine for adequate protection.
- Tetanus and diphtheria booster (every 10 years).
Required immunizations and booster shots after childhood:
- Individuals born after 1956 and immunized against measles at 15 months of age or older should receive a second measles immunization, usually with MMR (measles-mumps-rubella) vaccine for adequate protection.
- Tetanus and diphtheria booster (every 10 years).
Recommended immunizations and booster shots after childhood:
- Influenza vaccine. People at high risk for influenza A and B should receive vaccinations in late summer or fall of each year. People at high risk include those who have chronic heart and respiratory conditions, cancer, kidney disease, diabetes, anemia, or conditions that decrease immunity. Other individuals who work closely with persons at high risk should have this vaccine. Also individuals who live and work in crowded communities (such as college campuses) are at increased risk of contracting and spreading influenza and should also consider vaccination.
- Hepatitis B vaccine series is recommended for all people during their childhood or teenage years. Adults should be vaccinated if they are, have been, or plan to be sexually active with multiple partners or if their work exposes them to possible contact with the blood of others. Vaccinations are safe and effective protection against hepatitis B which can have serious consequences, including liver failure, cancer, and death.
- Hepatitis A vaccine
- Meningitis vaccine
Screening for Heart Disease:
If a male blood relative had a heart attack before age 50 (or female relative before age 60), your provider will usually want to measure the levels of lipids in your blood. Lipids are fatty substances in the body that include cholesterol. High levels of lipids are related to heart disease.
Screening for Colon Cancer:
If a close blood relative had a bowel cancer or if you have other risk factors for bowel cancer, your provider may want to discuss screening options with you.
Screening for Chlamydia and HIV:
Chlamydia screening is recommended for all sexually active women under the age of 25 at the time of their annual gynecologic exam. Experts in the field of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) now believe that screening for HIV and other STDs should be done more widely, especially for individuals who are at risk, e.g., multiple sexual partners, inconsistent use of condoms, etc. Exactly which STD tests should be done and how often are issues which you should discuss with your health care provider.