Our recommendations for periodic health evaluations vary by age and gender. Here are some iderations:

Everyone over 40 should be seen at least once a year to check for unsuspected problems such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or diabetes. We'll have lab tests done and do a general examination.

Women should have annual well woman examinations starting when they become sexually active. This would include a pap smear and general examination and sometimes lab work. Women over 65 who have never had an abnormal pap smear and meet certain other criteria only need pap smears every two years.

Younger patients should have a cholesterol check and diabetes screening in their mid to late teens and then every 5 years until they reach 40.

Babies need to be seen frequently their first year and then yearly until they start school. Visits are individualized after that.

It's a good idea to have an electrocardiogram at around age 40 so we have a "normal" tracing on file.

Probably the best screening test for heart disease is the Cardio scan, a CAT scan of the coronary arteries. I recommend that everyone over 50 have one of these. It may be wise to get the test earlier in people with a higher risk of heart disease (smokers, those with high blood pressure or high cholesterol, and those with a parent, brother, or sister who had a heart attack prior to age 65). Several places do Cardio scans and their quality and prices vary widely. I will have recommendations regarding that.

Cigarette smokers and people with lung disease should have an annual breathing test.

Insurance plans vary in their coverage of annual examinations. If your policy contains provisions for preventive exams or wellness exams it probably will provide coverage. If your policy does not do so we often find they will cover at least part of the expense. If your employer has a separate benefit for annual examinations we can work with that very easily and customize an evaluation to fit your employer's desires.

Medicare will not cover most preventive services such as annual reviews. Most of our Medicare patients choose to pay those expenses out of pocket and are surprised at how inexpensive they can be. We'll be glad to go over this with you.

We recommend that everyone over 50 have a colonoscopy every 5 years. And those who have a parent, brother or sister with colon cancer should start having colonoscopies in their 30's.

For a long time, tests of the stool for hidden blood have been recommended as a screening test for colon cancer. Unfortunately this is not a very reliable test. The majority of people with polyps and even cancers will have a negative stool test. It may be better than doing nothing, but is in no way a replacement for a colonoscopy.

We have several doctors who just care for stomach and colon problems who we refer to. Any time you're in the office mention your need for the test and we'll provide the information you will need. Fortunately there is rarely any problem with insurance coverage for this test.