Adults (19-64 years)

Adults ages 19 to 64 should visit their doctor for a routine check-up every one to three years.

Routine screening and testing

Height and weight (body mass index-screening for healthy weight)
Blood pressure
Vision
Chlamydia for women (up to age 24)
Cholesterol every 5 years, if normal
Colon cancer (1) starting at age 50
Mammogram every year for women ages 40 and over
Pap smear every year for women (testing less often may be recommended by your physician)
Your provider may want to discuss the following:

Nutrition
Exercise
Seatbelt use
Smoking, drug and alcohol use
Depression
Safer sex
Prostate cancer screening for most men ages 50 and over
If the provider does not ask about any of these health issues, you should bring them up if you have questions or concerns.

Immunizations

Tetanus, Diphtheria, pertussis (whooping cough) vaccine (if last tetanus vaccine was 10 or more years ago may receive one-dose one-time)
Influenza (Flu) vaccine (adults 50+ years, annually)
Hepatitis B vaccine (adults at risk)
Measles-Mumps-Rubella (MMR) vaccine (adults who’ve never received vaccine)
Meningococcal vaccine (college students in dormitories)
Varicella (chickenpox) vaccine (adults who’ve never had chicken pox and never received vaccine)
Human papillomavirus or HPV (protects against cervical cancer and genital warts) (adult women ages 19-26)
Pneumococcal vaccine (adults at risk)
Zoster (shingles) vaccine (adults 60+, one dose)
Notes:
(1)One of the following screening tests is recommended:

Annual fecal occult blood test (FOBT) or stool sample
Flexible sigmoidoscopy, every five years
Annual FOBT and flexible sigmoidoscopy, every five years
Total colon examination by double-contrast barium enema (DCBE), every 5 to 10 years
Total colon examination by colonoscopy, every 10 years

For more information on health insurance coverage in North Carolina, please visit our website at www.nchealthplans.com or call our toll free number 888-765-5400 and speak with one of our qualified agents.  Our agency provides coverage for health insurance in North Carolina through Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina (BCBSNC).  You may qualify for a 15% healthy lifestyle discount if you are in excellent health.  Call us for details.

Being physically active lowers your risk for two types of cancer: colon and breast. Research shows that:

Physically active people have a lower risk of colon cancer than do people who are not active.

Physically active women have a lower risk of breast cancer than do people who are not active.

Reduce your risk of endometrial and lung cancer. Although the research is not yet final, some findings suggest that your risk of endometrial cancer and lung cancer may be lower if you get regular physical activity compared to people who are not active.

Improve your quality of life. If you are a cancer survivor, research shows that getting regular physical activity not only helps give you a better quality of life, but also improves your physical fitness.

Strengthen Your Bones and Muscles

As you age, it’s important to protect your bones, joints and muscles. Not only do they support your body and help you move, but keeping bones, joints and muscles healthy can help ensure that you’re able to do your daily activities and be physically active. Research shows that doing aerobic, muscle-strengthening and bone-strengthening physical activity of at least a moderately-intense level can slow the loss of bone density that comes with age.

Hip fracture is a serious health condition that can have life-changing negative effects, especially if you’re an older adult. But research shows that people who do 120 to 300 minutes of at least moderate-intensity aerobic activity each week have a lower risk of hip fracture.

Regular physical activity helps with arthritis and other conditions affecting the joints. If you have arthritis, research shows that doing 130 to 150 (2 hours and 10 minutes to 2 hours and 30 minutes) a week of moderate-intensity, low-impact aerobic activity can not only improve your ability to manage pain and do everyday tasks, but it can also make your quality of life better.

Build strong, healthy muscles. Muscle-strengthening activities can help you increase or maintain your muscle mass and strength. Slowly increasing the amount of weight and number of repetitions you do will give you even more benefits, no matter your age.

Improve Your Mental Health and Mood
Regular physical activity can help keep your thinking, learning, and judgment skills sharp as you age. It can also reduce your risk of depression and may help you sleep better. Research has shown that doing aerobic or a mix of aerobic and muscle-strengthening activities 3 to 5 times a week for 30 to 60 minutes can give you these mental health benefits. Some scientific evidence has also shown that even lower levels of physical activity can be beneficial.

Improve Your Ability to do Daily Activities and Prevent Falls
A functional limitation is a loss of the ability to do everyday activities such as climbing stairs, grocery shopping, or playing with your grandchildren.

How does this relate to physical activity? If you’re a physically active middle-aged or older adult, you have a lower risk of functional limitations than people who are inactive

Already have trouble doing some of your everyday activities? Aerobic and muscle-strengthening activities can help improve your ability to do these types of tasks.

Are you an older adult who is at risk for falls? Research shows that doing balance and muscle-strengthening activities each week along with moderate-intensity aerobic activity, like brisk walking, can help reduce your risk of falling.

Increase Your Chances of Living Longer
Science shows that physical activity can reduce your risk of dying early from the leading causes of death, like heart disease and some cancers. This is remarkable in two ways:

Only a few lifestyle choices have as large an impact on your health as physical activity. People who are physically active for about 7 hours a week have a 40 percent lower risk of dying early than those who are active for less than 30 minutes a week.
You don’t have to do high amounts of activity or vigorous-intensity activity to reduce your risk of premature death. You can put yourself at lower risk of dying early by doing at least 150 minutes a week of moderate-intensity aerobic activity.
Everyone can gain the health benefits of physical activity – age, ethnicity, shape or size do not matter.

Reduce Your Risk of Cardiovascular Disease
Heart disease and stroke are two of the leading causes of death in the United States. But following the Guidelines and getting at least 150 minutes a week (2 hours and 30 minutes) of moderate-intensity aerobic activity can put you at a lower risk for these diseases. You can reduce your risk even further with more physical activity. Regular physical activity can also lower your blood pressure and improve your cholesterol levels.

The content of this post is part of a reprint from an article in Centers for Disease and Control Prevention and Content source: Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity and Obesity, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion.

For more information on North Carolina health insurance, please visit our website at www.nchealthplans.com  or call our toll free number 888-765-5400 and speak with one of our professional authorized agents. Our agency provides coverage for health insurance in North Carolina through Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina (BCBSNC). You may qualify for a 15% healthy lifestyle discount if you are in excellent health, call all our office for details.

Detecting prostate cancer earlier rather than later

There are two tests utilized to detect prostate cancer before symptoms have developed: the digital rectum exam (DRE) and a blood test often called PSA. The test is called PSA because it attempts to detect a substance produced by the prostate called prostate specific antigen. In the the DRE, a doctor feels the prostate through the rectum to find any particularly hard or lumpy areas.

The PSA results are analyzed in a lab and reported back to your doctor. It is possible (and frequent) that men will show elevated PSA levels but do not have cancer. In addition, many men with prostate cancer can show relatively normal levels of PSA. The digital rectal exam (DRE) can also miss some cancers; both tests in combination are better in accurately detecting and assessing prostate cancer.

The only certain way to diagnose prostate cancer is through a biopsy, the removing of tissue samples (usually with a needle). Often, this procedure can be done in the doctor’s office under local anesthesia. The cells removed are then examined for cancer cells.

Are there other conditions that can cause similar symptoms to prostate cancer?

Yes, definitely. Often as men age, the prostate will grow larger. Sometimes this growth will block or interfere with both urine or sexual function—some of the same symptoms for prostate cancer. It is a fairly common condition called benign prostatic hyperplasia or more commonly, BPH.

BPH is not prostate cancer, only an enlarged prostate. There are medications that can help treat BPH, and sometimes surgery is required to help relieve the symptoms.

This content of this post is a reprint from an article in www.healthandwellness.com

For more information on North Carolina health insurance, please visit our website at www.nchealthplans.com or call our toll free number 888-765-5400 and speak with one of our professional authorized agents.  Our agency provides coverage for health insurance in North Carolina through Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina (BCBSNC).  You may qualify for a 15% healthy lifestyle discount if you are in excellent health, call all our office for details.

Colorectal cancer (also known as colon cancer) is cancer that occurs in the colon or rectum. Colon cancer usually starts through the development of polyps, a type of foreign growth. Some of these polyps can develop into cancer. Colon cancer is the second-leading cancer that kills in the U.S. It is estimated that simple screening could help reduce or avoid over one-third of the deaths that currently result from this cancer.

Prevention is possible. Detection is key. And screening is the way, especially for those age fifty or above.

It is very common for people who have polyps or even colon cancer not to show symptoms, especially initially. This is why it is so important to be screened for the condition. The screening tests can find the polyps or any colon cancer early on, when treatment toward cure is possible and prognosis is very good. In addition to age, one may be at higher risk for the condition if you have a family member or relative who has had colon cancer or colorectal polyps, or if you currently have inflammatory bowel disease.

There are several studies suggesting that people may reduce their risk of developing colorectal cancer by increasing physical activity, eating fruits and vegetables, limiting alcohol consumption, and not smoking.

Colon cancer: Symptoms and screening

While many people show no symptoms of colon cancer (or polyps), some people with colorectal polyps or colorectal cancer do have symptoms. These may include:

• Blood in or on your stool (bowel movement).
• Pain, aches, or cramps in your stomach that happen often with no apparent cause.
• A change in bowel habits, such as having stools that are narrower than usual.
• Unexplained loss of weight.

If you have any of these symptoms, talk to your doctor. These symptoms can be caused by something other than colon cancer.  Your doctor is critical in the screening and diagnosis.

Types of colon cancer screening

Colorectal cancer almost always develops from precancerous polyps (abnormal growths) in the colon or rectum. Several tests can be used alone or in combination to screen for colorectal cancer. Following are test descriptions from the Centers for Disease Control/Division of Cancer Prevention, with recommended frequency for each different type:

Fecal occult blood test (FOBT)
This test checks for occult (hidden) blood in the stool. At home, you place a small amount of your stool from three consecutive bowel movements on test cards. You return the cards to your doctor’s office or to a lab where they’re checked for blood. This test is recommended yearly. (If blood is found, you likely will need a follow-up colonoscopy.)

Flexible sigmoidoscopy
Before this test, you use a strong laxative and/or enema to clean out the colon. Flexible sigmoidoscopy is conducted at the doctor’s office, in a clinic or at a hospital. The doctor (or other specially trained health care professional) uses a narrow, flexible, lighted tube to look at the inside of the rectum and the lower portion of the colon. During the exam, the doctor may remove polyps (abnormal growths) and collect samples of tissue or cells for closer examination. This test is recommended every five years. (If polyps are found, you will need a follow-up colonoscopy.)

Combination of FOBT and flexible sigmoidoscopy
Some doctors recommend having both the FOBT and flexible sigmoidoscopy to increase the chance of finding polyps (abnormal growths) and cancers. When used in combination, FOBT is recommended yearly and flexible sigmoidoscopy is recommended every five years.

Colonoscopy
Before this test, you will take a strong laxative to clean out the colon. Colonoscopy is conducted in a doctor’s office, in a clinic or at a hospital. You are given a sedative to make you more comfortable, while the doctor uses a narrow, flexible, lighted tube to look at the inside of the rectum and the entire colon. This test is similar to flexible sigmoidoscopy, except that the tube used is longer and allows the doctor to see the entire colon. During the exam, the doctor may remove polyps (abnormal growths) and collect samples of tissue or cells for closer examination. This test is recommended every 10 years. (Colonoscopy is also used as a follow-up test if anything unusual is found during one of the other screening tests.)

Double-contrast barium enema
This test is conducted in a radiology center or at a hospital. Before the test, you use a strong laxative and/or enema to clean out the colon. For this procedure, you are given an enema with a barium solution, followed by an injection of air. An X-ray of the rectum and colon is then taken. The barium coats the lining of the intestines so that polyps and other abnormalities are visible on the X-ray. This test is recommended every five years. (If polyps are found, you will need a follow-up colonoscopy.)

This content of this post is a reprint from an article in www.healthandwellness.com

For more information on North Carolina health insurance, please visit our website at www.nchealthplans.com or call our toll free number 888-765-5400 and speak with one of our professional authorized agents.  Our agency provides coverage for health insurance in North Carolina through Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina (BCBSNC).  You may qualify for a 15% healthy lifestyle discount if you are in excellent health, call all our office for details.