Keeping Your Senior Healthy with the Right Screenings

Health screenings are an integral aspect of a well-rounded healthcare plan, as they allow medical professionals to identify and address any concerns that may arise before they become major issues. This proactive attitude is one that can help you to ensure that your elderly loved one has the medical attention necessary to keep their quality of life and overall wellbeing as high as possible. But what, exactly, are the screenings that your loved one should have? Keeping up with the recommendations associated with healthcare is not always easy, particularly since these suggestions are dependent upon both age and gender. To help you take the best care of your elderly loved one possible, senior care professionals from Durham, North Carolina, have provided the following list of screenings that are recommended for men aged 60 to 69.1

• Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Screening: Also called an AAA screening, this particular test looks for any abnormalities in the aorta, which is an important artery. Using an ultrasound, doctors are able to detect an abdominal aortic aneurysm, which takes the shape of a bulge in the part of the artery that passes through the stomach. This particular test is crucial for individuals who have smoked, as their chances of developing this condition may be higher. 
• Blood Pressure Screening: A routine blood pressure reading is often the way that many medical facilities start their appointments—and for good reason. An accurate blood pressure reading can indicate heart health and call attention to any cardiovascular concerns that may be present. The test is recommended once every two years, but individuals are often administered this screening on every visit. 
• Cholesterol Screening: Cholesterol levels, including LDL, HDL, and total cholesterol, are, like blood pressure levels, indicative of heart health. Cholesterol screenings are performed by measuring these substances in the blood. This test is recommended at least once every five years. 
• Colorectal Cancer Screening: Based upon doctor recommendations, it is important for seniors to have regular colorectal cancer screenings, which can be performed via a colonoscopy, a sigmoidoscopy, or a stool sample. 

By maintaining the right preventative, proactive attitude, you can assist your elderly loved one in following the recommended health screening schedule.
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1 http://www.aarp.org/health/conditions-treatments/info-09-2010/screenings_by_age_and_gender.9.html