By Laura O’Reilly-Stanzilis RN MSM

Has COVID-19 disrupted your screenings?

Earlier in the year at the onset of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Pandemic, many diagnostic facilities and primary care practices cancelled routine screening appointments. If you had to cancel any of your screenings, now is the time to call and make a new appointment. If you’re uncomfortable with an in-person consultation ask your healthcare provider to do a telehealth session. Discuss your medical history, and next steps regarding your personal health care, and preventive screenings. Ask any questions you may have related to COVID-19, and what precautions are being taken at facilities so you know what to expect before you go in person.

If you haven’t scheduled (or rescheduled ) a screening, please do it today. Here’s why:

Health screenings become increasingly more routine as we age. Scheduled well checkups/physical exams are recommended for individuals across the lifespan.

Regular health exams and tests can help find problems before they start or at an early stage, when your chances for treatment and cure are better. By getting the right health services, screenings, and treatments, you are taking steps that help your chances for living a longer, healthier life. Your age, health, family history, lifestyle choices (i.e., what you eat, how active you are, whether you smoke or engage in risky behaviors), and other important factors impact what and how often you need healthcare.

Health Screenings

Screenings are tests that look for diseases before you have symptoms. Screening tests can find diseases early, when they’re easier to treat. You can get some screenings in your doctor’s office. Other screenings need special equipment, so you may need to go to a different office or an outpatient facility.

Some conditions that doctors commonly screen for include:

  • Breast cancer and cervical cancer in women
  • Colorectal cancer
  • Diabetes
  • High blood pressure
  • High cholesterol
  • Osteoporosis
  • Overweight and obesity
  • Prostate cancer in men Health Awareness Guide

Other screenings as recommended by your healthcare provider

Which tests you need depends on your age, your sex, your personal or family health history, and whether you have risk factors for certain diseases.

Breast cancer, prostate and colorectal cancer screenings and blood tests are all part of routine adult health care. Fear and anxiety and can often be a deterrent to getting regular screenings. Discuss your concerns with your healthcare provider and work together on a plan to help you to overcome fears. It is better to have knowledge and act on that knowledge than to delay until a disease has progressed and treatment is more complicated.

Concerned about cost?

Most health plans cover annual physical examinations and preventive screenings. Check with your insurance carrier and health care provider to confirm coverage.

Laura is a registered nurse, author, and health advocate. She is the owner of FTG Wellness Consulting and currently serves as Executive Director of the North Jersey Health Collaborative. She can be reached at laura@ftgwellness.com